Assessment of fatigue cracks in orthotropic steel decks

This study proposes a new “health” evaluation system for fatigue cracks in orthotropic steel bridge decks by measuring the strain changes in the asphalt pavements on steel plate decks. In order to consider the applicability of this system, parametric FE analyses are carried out in which the types of crack, their positions and their lengths are varied. From these analytical results it was discovered that the strain changes in the asphalt pavement on steel plate decks due to the lengths and positions of cracks can be significant enough to be detected.