This research program develops and validates structural design guidelines and details for concrete bridge decks with corrosion-resistant reinforcing (CRR) bars. A two-phase experimental program was conducted where a control test set consistent with a typical Virginia Department of Transportation bridge deck design using Grade 60 steel (ASTM A615, fy = 60 ksi) and epoxy-coated reinforcing steel was compared to deck slab specimens where Grade 60 is replaced with CRR bars. The experimental program was designed to evaluate how flexural performance at service and ultimate limit states are affected by a one-to-one replacement of Grade 60 with CRR bars, a reduction of concrete clear cover, and a reduction in rebar size. Structural analysis models were developed using Response 2000 in order to predict the CRR bridge deck moment-curvature and the moment-crack width relationships. Experimental trends proved to be consistent with the analytical results demonstrating the viability of Response 2000 as a design tool for reinforced concrete with high-strength and nonmetallic rebar without a defined yield plateau. For reduced bar size and clear cover (2.00 in instead 2.50 in), ASTM A1035 and UNS S32304 specimens proved to have similar deformability ratios and crack widths that comply with current AASHTO requirements, with as much as 36% less steel.

Recently developed corrosion-resistant reinforcing structural design guidelines were used to design, construct, and assess a reinforced concrete bridge deck with high-strength ASTM A1035 CS steel bars. The bridge replacement is located along the North Scenic Highway over the Wolf Creek in Bland County, Virginia. The bridge deck design used the higher yield stress available from ASTM A1035 CS steel to replace No. 5 bars with No. 4 bars that saved 23% by weight of steel in the deck and reduced reinforcement bar congestion, especially near the traffic barrier-bridge deck splice. The material cost savings was also 23% compared to a standard Virginia Department of Transportation bridge deck since the bars were bid as a cost per unit weight. The Wolf Creek Bridge deck surface (i.e., cracks, slope, and surface profile) was documented using an automated computer vision system assembled with off-the-shelf cameras that accurately surveyed the bridge deck in less than 10 minutes, providing a high resolution 3D digital state model before and after the bridge was opened to traffic. The bridge deck is in excellent condition after 2 months in service, with only one crack of 0.004 in observed near a construction joint. The study concluded that concrete bridge decks can be designed with No. 4 bars and constructed considering the structural benefits of gradually yielding, high-strength ASTM A1035 CS reinforcement bars with satisfactory in-service performance and some cost savings.

This paper presents design recommendations of non-composite reinforced concrete bridge decks subjected to fatigue due to moving loads. These recommendations are based on test results of 1/3- and 1/6.6- scale physical models of a full-scale 21.6-cm (8.5 in.) thick and 15.24-m (50-ft) long simply supported non-composite reinforced concrete deck. Concrete bridge decks should be designed to transfer the load in a two-way action. Experimental results show that the two-way slab action in the decks changes to a one-way action (transverse direction) as fatigue damage due to a moving wheel-load accumulates. It is recommended to adopt an isotropic steel reinforcing pattern. An isotropic reinforcing pattern with a steel ratio of 0.3 % (each top and bottom layer) in each direction appears to be adequate. A similar reinforcing amount and pattern is required by the Ontario bridge design Code. The required steel content is therefore reduced resulting in substantial savings in the bridge deck construction costs and improving the corrosion resistance in decks, especially in the presence of deicing chemicals. It appears that flexural cracking in the deck and bond failure at the steel-concrete interface are necessary and sufficient conditions for deck failure under traffic loads. It is, thus, highly desirable to preclude or at least limit cracking and maximize the bond strength of the steel rebars.

Bridges play important role in modern infrastructural system. This book provides an up-to-date overview of the field of bridge engineering, as well as the recent significant contributions to the process of making rational decisions in bridge design, assessment and monitoring and resources optimization deployment for the purpose of enhancing the welfare of society. Tang specifies the purposes and requirements of the conceptual bridge design, considering bridge types, basic elements, structural systems and load conditions. Cremona and Poulin propose an assessment procedure for existing bridges. Kallias et al. develop a framework for the performance assessment of metallic bridges under atmospheric exposure by integrating coating deterioration and corrosion modelling. Soriano et al. employ a simplified approach to estimate the maximum traffic load effect on a highway bridge and compare the results with other approaches based on on-site weigh-in-motion data. Akiyama et al. propose a method for reliability-based durability design and service life assessment of reinforced concrete deck slab of jetty structures. Chen et al. propose a meso-scale model to simulate the uniform and pitting corrosion of rebar in concrete and to obtain the crack patterns of the concrete with different rebar arrangements. Ruan et al. present a traffic load model for long span multi-pylon cable- stayed bridges. Khuc and Catbas implement a non-target vision- based method for the measurement of both static and dynamic displacements time histories. Finally, Cruz presents the career of the outstanding bridge engineer Edgar Cardoso in the fields of bridge design and experimental analysis. The book serves as a valuable reference to all concerned with bridge structure and infrastructure systems, including students, researchers, engineers, consultants and contractors from all areas sections of bridge engineering. The chapters originally published as a special issue in Structure and Infrastructure Engineering.