Analysis of Orthotropic Bridge Decks with Supports Normal to Traffic under Canadian Truck Loading

Orthotropic bridge decks spanning parallel to traffic direction take the form of (i) unidirectional open steel ribs, (ii) open steel grid, (iii) fully/partially filled steel grid, (iv) closed steel ribs, and (v) reinforced concrete slab. While the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code specifies treating the fifth type as slab bridges with respect to the simplified method of analysis, it does not specify a reliable simplified method of analysis for the other deck types. This may lead to possible error due to neglecting the deck's flexural and torsional rigidity effects. Therefore, a parametric study was conducted, using the Orthotropic Plate Theory, on different deck configurations under truck loading conditions, with key parameters including deck span and width, longitudinal-to-transverse flexural rigidities, and torsional rigidities. The data generated from this research was used to develop reliable equations for the longitudinal and transverse moments, and deflection for use by designers and code writers.