Study on the Impact of Diaphragm Deformation on Fatigue Performance and Maintenance Strategies in Steel Bridge Decks

Localized diaphragm (transversal plate) deformation and buckling were identified at the arc notch region during structural inspections of an operational steel bridge. To evaluate the potential structural consequences, alterations in the fatigue performance and stress characteristics induced by this...

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Main Authors: Chuanxi Li, Yue Yao, Zhendong Li, Bohai Ji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4245
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author Chuanxi Li
Yue Yao
Zhendong Li
Bohai Ji
author_facet Chuanxi Li
Yue Yao
Zhendong Li
Bohai Ji
author_sort Chuanxi Li
collection DOAJ
description Localized diaphragm (transversal plate) deformation and buckling were identified at the arc notch region during structural inspections of an operational steel bridge. To evaluate the potential structural consequences, alterations in the fatigue performance and stress characteristics induced by this deformation were systematically investigated through in situ monitoring combined with numerical simulation. It was demonstrated that the global load-transfer mechanism of the orthotropic steel deck (OSD) system remained minimally compromised. While within the localized deformation zone, the stress magnitudes at the diaphragm-to-U-rib (DU) welds were observed to be significantly amplified, and the stress concentration zones were found to be relocated to geometrically depressed regions. Based on the deformation-stage mechanical responses, the strategic employment of residual compressive stress generated through controlled hammer peening was proposed for counteracting stress escalation at DU welds recently caused by diaphragm buckling, whereas steel plate reinforcement strategies were recommended for mitigating progressive deformation development.
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issn 2076-3417
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-283d4995dfdb4d5e96474ea175090b642025-08-20T03:14:24ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01158424510.3390/app15084245Study on the Impact of Diaphragm Deformation on Fatigue Performance and Maintenance Strategies in Steel Bridge DecksChuanxi Li0Yue Yao1Zhendong Li2Bohai Ji3College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Jiangsu Open University, Nanjing 210036, ChinaCollege of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaLocalized diaphragm (transversal plate) deformation and buckling were identified at the arc notch region during structural inspections of an operational steel bridge. To evaluate the potential structural consequences, alterations in the fatigue performance and stress characteristics induced by this deformation were systematically investigated through in situ monitoring combined with numerical simulation. It was demonstrated that the global load-transfer mechanism of the orthotropic steel deck (OSD) system remained minimally compromised. While within the localized deformation zone, the stress magnitudes at the diaphragm-to-U-rib (DU) welds were observed to be significantly amplified, and the stress concentration zones were found to be relocated to geometrically depressed regions. Based on the deformation-stage mechanical responses, the strategic employment of residual compressive stress generated through controlled hammer peening was proposed for counteracting stress escalation at DU welds recently caused by diaphragm buckling, whereas steel plate reinforcement strategies were recommended for mitigating progressive deformation development.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4245orthotropic steel deckdiaphragm-to-U-rib welddiaphragm deformationmechanical characteristicfatigue performanceclassified maintenance
spellingShingle Chuanxi Li
Yue Yao
Zhendong Li
Bohai Ji
Study on the Impact of Diaphragm Deformation on Fatigue Performance and Maintenance Strategies in Steel Bridge Decks
Applied Sciences
orthotropic steel deck
diaphragm-to-U-rib weld
diaphragm deformation
mechanical characteristic
fatigue performance
classified maintenance
title Study on the Impact of Diaphragm Deformation on Fatigue Performance and Maintenance Strategies in Steel Bridge Decks
title_full Study on the Impact of Diaphragm Deformation on Fatigue Performance and Maintenance Strategies in Steel Bridge Decks
title_fullStr Study on the Impact of Diaphragm Deformation on Fatigue Performance and Maintenance Strategies in Steel Bridge Decks
title_full_unstemmed Study on the Impact of Diaphragm Deformation on Fatigue Performance and Maintenance Strategies in Steel Bridge Decks
title_short Study on the Impact of Diaphragm Deformation on Fatigue Performance and Maintenance Strategies in Steel Bridge Decks
title_sort study on the impact of diaphragm deformation on fatigue performance and maintenance strategies in steel bridge decks
topic orthotropic steel deck
diaphragm-to-U-rib weld
diaphragm deformation
mechanical characteristic
fatigue performance
classified maintenance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4245
work_keys_str_mv AT chuanxili studyontheimpactofdiaphragmdeformationonfatigueperformanceandmaintenancestrategiesinsteelbridgedecks
AT yueyao studyontheimpactofdiaphragmdeformationonfatigueperformanceandmaintenancestrategiesinsteelbridgedecks
AT zhendongli studyontheimpactofdiaphragmdeformationonfatigueperformanceandmaintenancestrategiesinsteelbridgedecks
AT bohaiji studyontheimpactofdiaphragmdeformationonfatigueperformanceandmaintenancestrategiesinsteelbridgedecks