Load-consistent effective widths for composite steel-concrete decks

ABSTRACT: This paper proposes new effective widths for the analysis of twin-girder and single-box girder steel-concrete composite bridge decks. The method proposed catches the effects of a single load layout, as well as the maximum effects obtained by considering the envelopes of bending moments, support settlements and shrinkage effects. The method permits evaluating the normal longitudinal stress on the slab by means of a cross sectional analysis starting from the results of the structural analysis performed by considering the geometric width of the slab. Various comparisons between the slab stresses of a realistic continuous twin-girder composite bridge deck calculated by means of the method proposed, a refined shell finite element model, are shown demonstrating the simplicity and effectiveness of the method.