Fatigue Capacity Evaluation of the Girder-Abutment Connection for the Steel-Concrete Composite Rigid-Frame Bridge Integrated with PS Bar

Abstract

Integral and rigid frame bridges have advantages in bridge maintenance and structural efficiency by eliminating expansion joints and bridge supports. However, the detail of typical girder-abutment connection is rather complex and increases construction cost depending on construction detail. For the purpose of compensating disadvantages such as complexity and additional cost, a new type of bridge is proposed in this study, which improves the efficiency of construction by simplifying the construction detail of girder-abutment connection. The proposed bridge has the connection detail of steel girder and abutment integrated by prestressed PS bar installed in the connection. In this study, finite element analysis and fatigue load test are conducted to evaluate the fatigue capacity of the proposed girder-abutment connection. The results of the finite element analysis revealed that the possibility of the fatigue damage in the girder-abutment connection is very low. The results of the fatigue load test verified that the integrity of the girder and abutment connection is maintained after 2,000,000 cycles of fatigue loading.