In-Service Response of an Orthotropic Steel Deck Compared with Design Assumptions

To minimize the possibility of fatigue cracking on the new orthotropic deck of the Williamsburg Bridge, laboratory tests with a full-scale prototype panel were conducted. During the study, recommendations for improving fatigue resistance of the welded rib-diaphragm connection detail were made before construction. In addition, load testing and long-term remote monitoring of the orthotropic deck were conducted. The field data suggest that actual truckloads are greater than the standard truck-loads assumed in the AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Specifications. They also suggest that modifications to the fatigue design of deck elements may be required because the maximum stress range exceeds twice the stress range provided by the fatigue truck (i.e., twice the fatigue truck assumed by the AASHTO LRFD Specifications).