Structural Integrity and Durability: A Comparative Study of Steel Arched Trusses with Conventional vs. Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete Deck

Abstract

Steel arched trusses are used most commonly in construction applications because of their capability of distributing weigh. The nature of the material used to construct their decks has a greater impact on their reliability and durability. This paper aims to assess the efficiency of the steel arched trusses formed by standard concrete slabs and surfaces developed with SIFCON, a fiber-reinforced, high tensile strength, and crack-resistant composite material. These performance parameters were mechanistic load-carrying capacity, deflection profiles, and durability under static and cyclic loading regimes, in addition to the numerical modeling.

In the experimental phase, there were 14 specimens subjected to different deck thicknesses and fiber reinforcements. As concerning shown conclusions, SIFCON decks revealed up to 30% of the enhanced load-carrying capability or fresh concrete about its deformation and an approximate three-fold decreased deflection as compared with traditionally used concrete stereotype decks. Moreover, the improvements to SIFCON crack-bridging capability restored suitable performance to its opposites under cyclic loading, suggesting its durability for chronic use. Numerical simulations supplemented these results by showing improved uniform stress distribution and failure modes in trusses reinforced with SIFCON.