Investigation of mechanical properties of thin epoxy polymer overlay materials upon orthotropic steel bridge decks

► Thin epoxy polymer concrete overlay. ► Response models of epoxy binder and its concrete. ► Fatigue models of epoxy binder-steel system and epoxy polymer concrete. The paper is focused on development of response and fatigue models of thin epoxy polymer overlay materials. Test data indicated that epoxy binder-steel bonding exhibited a strong temperature dependency. Fatigue models on epoxy binder-steel bonding and epoxy polymer concrete were developed using the power-law equation. Response models of epoxy binder and its concrete were properly established by using the Prony series. The developed response models could be served for finite element simulations on epoxy polymer concrete overlay upon orthotropic steel bridge decks. When the material stress or strain in the overlay is computed, life prediction becomes available by using the fatigue models.