Standardization and Optimization of Orthotropic steel deck with Numerical modelling

In this paper, standardization and optimization of Orthotropic Steel Deck (OSD) is carried out to increase its usage as an essential bridge component. OSD’s are more often used in the long span bridges because they considered expensive and more complex structure. There are fatigue crack complications associated with these type of steel decks due to their direct contact with the heavy cyclic loading. The idea of standardizing the OSD’s is floating in the research industry for last two decades. To facilitate this concept numerical simulation study is carried out with and without additional cutouts with different deck thicknesses and span lengths. The Cross beams without stress relieving cutouts have been introduced which will reduce the labor cost for special cutouts preparation and increase the fatigue endurance of critical welded joints. Based on these numerical results; recommendations have been made. Standardization and optimization of OSD’s will definitely increase their usage in bridges.