Longitudinal joint in decked bulb‐tee beams for accelerated bridge construction with ribbed GFRP bars: Ultimate load and fatigue evaluation.

Accelerated bridge construction (ABC) techniques have gained prominence due to their potential to minimize construction time and traffic disruptions while enhancing sustainability. This study investigates the use of ultra‐high‐performance concrete (UHPC) and glass fiber‐reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars to address critical challenges in bridge durability and longevity. A novel UHPC‐filled precast deck joint was developed for a decked bulb‐tee (DBT) girder system, utilizing GFRP bars to eliminate corrosion‐related issues typical of steel reinforcement. Two actual‐size, GFRP‐reinforced, precast concrete deck slabs were erected to perform fatigue tests using the footprint of the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC) truck wheel loading to verify the design. Each slab had 200 mm thickness, 2500 mm width, and 3500 mm length in the direction of traffic and rest over braced twin steel girders. The closure strip between connected precast slabs has a width of 125 mm with a vertical shear key. GFRP bars in the precast slab projected into the closure strip with a headed end to provide a 100 mm embedment length. Two types of fatigue tests were performed (i) accelerated variable amplitude cyclic loading and (ii) constant amplitude cyclic loading, followed by loading the slab monotonically to failure. Results demonstrated the system's superior fatigue performance and high ultimate load capacity, making it a promising solution for durable, efficient bridge construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]