An approach for failure analysis of composite bridge deck systems with openings

Design details pertaining to the connection between some recently developed fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite deck systems and the supporting girders require openings through cells of the deck. This significantly changes the stress distribution in these components. As a result, the conventional assumptions that deck designs are controlled by their stiffness, and not strength, needs a closer examination. This paper proposes an analytical method to investigate the stress states and failure mechanisms using a type of ?lobal-local?modeling perspective, incorporating classical lamination theory and first ply failure criterion with use of appropriate stress concentration factors around the cutouts. The use of a ?meared-stress?approach is presented as a potential means of simplifying certain FRP specific complexities, while still enabling prediction of overall failure.