Static and fatigue performance of composite deck slabs with notched perfobond ribs

Abstract

To accelerate the construction of composite deck slabs (CDSs), a novel detail (NCDS) is proposed, where regular perfobond ribs are replaced with notched ones so that the perforating rebars can be easily placed inside the holes. First, finite element models were established to reveal the static load transfer mechanism and compare it with regular CDSs. Then, the fatigue performance was evaluated by employing the Smith-Watson-Topper model based on critical plane method. Finally, the effects of geometric parameters were investigated through a parametric study. Results show that NCDS shows no significant difference in static performance compared to regular CDSs. The fillet welds connecting the bottom plate and notched ribs are subjected to multiaxial stress, and the shear-bending region is the most critical position for fatigue crack initiation. The parametric study demonstrates that with proper design of rib geometries, NCDSs could reach a 36.4% higher fatigue life than regular CDSs.