SUITABILITY OFALUMINIUM ALLOY DECKS ON STEEL GIRDERS IN HORIZONTALLY CURVED BRIDGES.

A finite element analysis of horizontally curved aluminium bridge deck of θ≤34.4 is presented in this study. The structural behaviour of deck was studied while varying applied normal and centrifugal stresses at various geometric properties. The applied normal and centrifugal stresses represents that obtained under service conditions when the deck is subjected to dead (e.g. deck self-weight, filling, parapet, etc.) and live loads (e.g. wheel loads). The results obtained showed that the maximum Von Mises stresses decreases with increasing thickness of stiffeners. A minimum stiffener thickness of 7mm is found to be ideal in withstanding the applied stresses. The maximum Von Mises stresses obtained was less than the Yield stress of the materialthus suggesting that the proprietary AlumadeckTM is suitable for use as bridge deck in curved alignments.