Approximate analytical conditions of a panel RC slab for reproducing the fatigue behaviors of a real bridge RC slab

Abstract

This study proposes approximate boundary conditions for a panel reinforced concrete (RC) slab to simulate the fatigue behaviors of a real bridge RC slab. To validate the approach, fatigue analysis of the panel RC slab is conducted using a finite element method (FEM) based numerical model with the bridging stress degradation concept. Both the proposed approximate boundary conditions, and those that have been typically employed in past studies, are used. The numerical results demonstrate that the panel RC slab with approximate boundary conditions experiences the same bending moment distribution and deformations around the loading locations as the load moves along the slab axis, similar to those of a real bridge RC slab. Moreover, the approximate boundary conditions reproduce the extensive grid crack pattern in the panel RC slab, which is similar to that generally observed in a real bridge RC slab. The results of this study establish that panel RC slab with approximate boundary conditions behaves in a similar manner to a real bridge RC slab, which results in a more realistic fatigue life estimation.