Analysis of the behavior of composite steel beam and lightweight concrete slab with glass fiber reinforced composite

This study proposes a novel design for lightweight concrete slabs reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) for application in steel girder bridges. The lightweight concrete, with a compressive strength of 30 MPa, incorporates Keramzit as a lightweight aggregate and GFRP reinforcement to construct the bridge deck slabs. Numerical simulations are conducted to analyze the behavior of the slabs under both static and dynamic loading conditions, adhering to standard load combinations. The results demonstrate that the proposed lightweight concrete slabs offer significant weight reduction, improved load-bearing capacity, and enhanced durability compared to traditional concrete. The finite element analysis using Midas FEA software reveals minimal deformation and cracking under dynamic loading, with a maximum displacement of 0.641 mm, well within safety limits. Furthermore, GFRP reinforcement exhibits superior performance in reducing tensile stress and minimizing crack propagation. These findings validate the feasibility of integrating GFRP-reinforced lightweight concrete slabs in steel girder bridges, offering a cost-effective, sustainable, and efficient solution for modern bridge construction, particularly in Vietnam's demanding infrastructure environment. The study provides a strong foundation for future computational modeling and experimental investigations to further optimize this innovative structural design.