Abstract: In this paper, the nonlinear finite element method is adopted to investigate the behavior of self-compacting concrete bridge deck slabs reinforced with basalt fibre reinforced polymer (BFRP) rebar in a real bridge named as Thompson′s bridge in Northern Ireland. By comparing the results from the test and the finite element analysis, it is found that the proposed numerical model shows good agreement with the results from the field test. Based on the accurate validation with the test results, the loading-carrying capacity of self-compacting bridge decks reinforced with BFRP bars is predicted and a series of parametric study is conducted to evaluate the influence of some structural variables on loading carrying capacity of bridge deck slabs in Thompson′s Bridge. The numerical results indicate that the ultimate bearing capacity of the concrete deck slabs in Thompson Bridgeis about 1000 kN, which is about 6 times of European pressure load of 150 kN. However, the ultimate bearing capacity of bridge deck is highly underestimated by existing bridge deck design guidelines due to the ignorance of the existence of the compression membrane action. The results from parametric study show that the reinforcement ratio and the type of reinforcement have no significant effect on the ultimate bearing capacity of the bridge deck due to the influence of compressive membrane action. On the contrary, the concrete strength and the span to depth ratio have strong effect on the loading-carrying capacity of concrete bridge deck reinforced with BFRP bars.

Key words: nonlinear finite element method, BFRP reinforced self-compacting concrete bridge deck, compression membrane action, loading-carrying capacity