Slab cracking control in composite decks by means of fractionated castings

This paper presents a study on the control of the slab cracking tendency in steel-concrete decks, achieved by optimising the slab casting. After a brief description of the numerical model proposed by the authors, the results of calculations performed with reference to different sample decks are presented by showing the stress distribution obtained by continuous and sequential castings. The effects of the early age shrinkage due to cooling of the concrete are reported and the effects of tensile creep behaviour of the concrete are examined. Finally, the effectiveness of sequential casting in controlling cracking both at early age and in the long term is shown.