Temperature Measurements During Asphalt Paving on a Bridge with Orthotropic Deck

Abstract Currently, there is no defined load case for asphalt paving in bridge design codes. This often leads to discussions during the planning of bridges in Germany, particularly for steel bridges. As part of the rehabilitation of the Franz Joseph Strauβ Bridge in Passau, the pavement was removed and newly installed. To provide a basis for further analysis, temperature measurements were carried out during the asphalt paving process. Three measuring points were installed along the longitudinal direction and three across the width of the bridge. The heating and cooling behavior of the deck plate, the trapezoidal stiffeners, and the crossbeams were recorded. The results show that the heat exposure during paving is not negligible and leads to a significant temperature increase in the bridge cross‐section. The data can serve as a basis for further investigations and for defining a specific load case related to asphalt paving.