Publisher's Synopsis
Composite bridge decks usually consist of a steel structure that works together with a top concrete slab, which forms the road, rail or pedestrian platform. This structural solution has been adopted over the last 50 years in small span bridges, as well as in medium and long span bridges. Composite steel-concrete decks are particularly well designed to work in mid-span regions. With the presence of cracks in concrete bridge decks, water, sulfates, chlorides, and other potentially corrosive agents able to permeate to the interior of the bridge deck and cause further deterioration in the form of even larger cracks, spalling, potholes and eventually a loss of cross section of the bridge deck or reinforcing steel, which ultimately leads to an unsafe bridge. Fatigue strength of materials can be affected by the environment which can influence both the crack initiation and crack growth phase of fatigue cracks. Corrosion can reduce the fatigue life of a structure by introducing surface flaws which can be considered as local stress raisers that may cause high stress concentrations. Therefore, structural steels should be protected against corrosion. Load effects generated by traffic loads on bridges are generally very complex. Not only are the stress ranges generated by these loads of variable amplitudes, but also other parameters that might affect the fatigue performance of bridge details such as the mean stress values and the sequence of loading cycles are rather stochastic. Design of Steel-Concrete Composite Bridges to Eurocodes is a compilation of the latest methods in the design and construction of steel-concrete composite bridges. Containing precise data, in-depth examples and numerous illustrations, it offers guidance from the first step in bridge design through to the construction process. Presents comprehensive coverage of Eurocodes, their implementation and effect on new bridge-design techniques and a comparison with other international codes. Several examples of ways in which theory can be united with the real world implications of bridge construction, enabling the reader to put design concepts into practice. New structural forms of steel/concrete composite bridges have been actively sought and developed have been presented in this book. New ideas for the future steel/concrete composite bridges utilizing concrete filled steel girders are also introduced and proved to be feasible and economical by analyses, experiments and trial designs.
