Study on the bending performance of loop connection joints in concrete bridge deck slabs

Abstract Cast‐in‐situ joints are usually used to connect concrete components of precast assembled bridges. The traditional cast‐in‐situ joint reinforcements are typically tied or welded, which increases construction time and labor. Recent practical engineering has gradually adopted loop connection joints, which are convenient for construction and have smaller connection lengths. The loop connection joints tensile capacity is often calculated using the strut‐and‐tie model (STM), but there is little research on the bending capacity. In this study, bending static tests were conducted on loop connection joints in the concrete bridge deck slabs, and finite element (FE) models of the joint were established and verified through experiments. Then, parametric analyses were conducted to reveal the force mechanism of loop connection joints. Subsequently, considering the equivalent strength and area of the concrete compressive strut, STM was used to analyze the tension zone capacity. Finally, combined with the bending calculation model for the beam section, a calculation method for loop connection joint bending capacity was proposed.