Experimental study on fatigue behavior of prefabricated high-strength steel-concrete composite bridge beams

To investigate the fatigue performance of prefabricated high-strength steel-concrete composite beams (P-HS-CCB), six specimens were designed with different fatigue load amplitudes, different fatigue load upper limits, and varying degrees of shear connection. Among them, specimen S560 underwent static failure testing, while the remaining five specimens underwent fatigue testing. The analysis was conducted from the perspectives of fatigue failure modes, fatigue life, and stiffness after specific cycles, with a comparison of the fatigue life calculation formula from different international codes. The results demonstrate that the fatigue failure mode of the P-HS-CCB is cracking in the vicinity of the steel beam at the mid-span, followed by crack propagation along both the web and flange widths. The P-HS-CBB exhibits excellent combination effects and anti-fatigue performance, maintaining nearly constant stiffness during fatigue loading with minimal composite section slip. The fatigue life of the P-HS-CBB is mainly influenced by the fatigue load amplitude during the testing. The S-N curve provided by AASHTO shows a good fit with the curve fitting based on experimental data and can be used to guide the anti-fatigue design of this type of beam. •A novel prefabricated high-strength steel composite beam is designed for large-span bridges.•A series of fatigue experiments are conducted to verify the life safety in service.•The tested specimens demonstrate superior fatigue resistance compared with AASHTO codes.