Title: CRACKING OF THE ASPHALT SURFACING OF THE LONGEST SUSPENSION STEEL BRIDGE IN CHINA
Abstract: Due to its good flexibility, crack resistance and imperviousness to water, mastic asphalt is believed to be a suitable surfacing material for orthotropic steel deck plates of long-spanned steel bridges. It is widely and successfully used as an asphalt surfacing for long-spanned steel bridges in Europe and Japan. Jiangyin Bridge in China, one of the longest suspension orthotropic steel bridges in the world, is also paved with mastic asphalt. Severe cracks and ruts in its asphalt surfacing were observed during its early period of operation. Timely investigation into the premature damage of bridge deck pavements is necessary, not only for rehabilitation purposes, but also for the continued operation and maintenance of the rehabilitated surfacing system of this bridge and other steel bridges. This paper summarises the findings of four years of inspection on 41 550 m 2 of mastic asphalt surfacing on the orthotropic steel deck of Jiangyin Bridge and investigations into the cracks. The cracks are believed to be induced by rutting and fatigue. Lack of fatigue resistance, poor bonding to the steel deck and insufficient high-temperature stability appear to be the main reasons for the problems with the surfacing, besides high traffic volumes at low speed and excessively overloaded trucks.
Publication Year: 2005
Publication Date: 2005-07-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 3
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