The national bridge inventory reveals that our bridges face persistent performance and maintenance problems. One of the major problems is deck joints that often lead to deterioration in their vicinity. Using jointless bridge decks reduces direct and indirect costs associated with bridge maintenance and repair. This paper presents two approaches to investigate the behavior of jointless bridge-deck systems. The first is a detailed nonlinear finite-element analysis of bridges subjected to instantaneous, temperature, and time- dependent effects that is used as a proof of concept, which was validated using published experimental testing results. Key parameters, such as support configurations, time-dependent effects, link-slab stiffness, debonded length, and level of reinforcement, were investigated. Analytical results of modes of failure, deflections, and strains are presented. A simplified method that is more suitable for design purposes is presented and then used to investigate the instantaneous effects of introducing a link slab to six typical reinforced and prestressed concrete bridges. This study suggests that the use of debonded link slabs can be effective in extending the service lives of new or repaired bridges.
