Fundamental study on half-width slab deck replacement method for an existing composite steel girder bridge

Abstract

<p>Currently in Japan, RC deck of steel girder bridges suffers significant damage due to the heavy traffic</p><p>/ increasing the traffic load and leakage. Therefore, it becomes a time to renewal the slab deck especially the aged bridges designed based on recent codes. To avoid the traffic congestions during construction, it is hardly demanded to propose a new design method to shortening the construction period, as well as reducing the cost to retrofitting of the bridge. In this study, we focused on the amount of retrofit needed to replace the RC deck composite steel girder bridge to precast PC deck non-composite steel girder bridge, under half-traffic servicing state. To clarify the subject, frame analysis and FEM analysis were conducted. It is known from the frame analysis that, remove the load distribution crossbeam during construction may reduce the amount of girder’s retrofitting. It is also revealed that, the slab deck should be partially replaced rather than fully replaced by FEM analysis.</p>