The primary objective of this project was to test a full-scale prototype of an actual bridge deck containing GFRP bars as the top mat of reinforcement. The purpose of the tests was to verify that the design would resist the loads for which it was designed and provide assurance that the deck would not unexpectedly fail due to the use of this new material. Behavior of the bridge and deck, such as failure load, failure mode, cracking load, crack widths, deflections, and internal stresses, were examined. Four tests were performed on the deck, all of which tested the deck in negative moment regions. From the tests, it was concluded that the design of the deck was very conservative and that unexpected failure should be of no concern. The secondary objective of this project was to comment on the construction of a bridge deck reinforced with GFRP bars and to note its advantages and disadvantages along with a critique of the current state-of-the-art of designing bridge decks with FRP reinforcement. It was found that the advantages of construction with GFRP bars far outweighed the disadvantages, and that the placing of the top mat of GFRP bars was much easier than the placing of the bottom mat of steel bars. It was also concluded that the current state-of-the-art of designing bridge decks reinforced with GFRP is, for the most part, inaccurate in its prediction of behavior and that more research is needed to create more accurate design equations and procedures. Although current methods do not result in accurate predictions of behavior, they do, as mentioned above, result in conservative designs. / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1960 C45

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

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This thesis evaluates the use of fibrous reinforced concrete as a viable structural repair alternative. An independent laboratory investigation was conducted to substantiate the validity of the marketed claims of Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Concrete (PFRC) and of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) to improve the long-term performance of conventional portland cement concrete. The study found that SFRC significantly increases the compression strength, flexural behavior, and material toughness of PCC, whereas the test response for PFRC yielded minimal contributory strengths. The work examines the function of fibers; FRC's historical background, prevalent economic considerations, and modern repair applicational developments; remedies to overcome the negative aspects of SFRC; current research programs; and future trends. The author recommends trial field demonstration of Steel Fiber Reinforced Micro-Silica Dense Concrete (SFR-MSDC) as a cost-competitive material alternate in lieu of non-fibrous Latex-Modified Concrete (LMC) to more proficiently rehabilitate fatigue-distressed bridge decks.

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