Full-Scale Test and Simulation on Flexural Behavior of Dovetail-Shaped Reactive Powder–Concrete Wet Joint in a Composite Deck System

AbstractComposite deck systems composed of a steel deck and a reactive powder–concrete (RPC) layer are widely used in long-span bridges because of their satisfactory crack resistance and fatigue resilience. However, durability problems usually appear at the interface between the wet joint and the precast RPC layer. In the present study, a dovetail-shaped RPC wet joint is proposed to improve crack resistance. An experimental study was conducted to describe the mechanical behavior of the dovetail-shaped RPC wet joint under a negative moment, including crack development, strain distribution, and load–deflection response. A finite-element model validated with the experimental results was built in a finite-element program for supplementary parametric analysis. The reinforcement ratio and the inclined angle of the dovetail-shaped area were quantitatively investigated. Design parameters are recommended according to the parametric analysis.