Statistics released in the fall 1989 showed that 238,357 (41%) of the nation's 577,710 bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. New materials, such as fiber reinforced polymeric composites (FRP), are being suggested for use in bridge systems to solve some of the current problems. These materials are thought to be less affected by corrosive environmental conditions than conventional civil engineering materials. Therefore they may require less maintenance and provide longer life spans. More specifically, glass fiber reinforced vinyl ester matrix composites are considered possible replacements for deteriorating conventional bridge decks due to their durability, decreased weight, and relative affordability. In order to facilitate rapid acceptance of FRP structural components into the world of civil structural engineering, effective and efficient NDE techniques must be explored and documented in these situations. This thesis will discuss the use of Infrared Thermography (IRT) as a means of detecting debonds and voids caused by conditions encountered both in fabrication and in the field. As forced convective hot air is applied within the bridge deck, debonds between bridge deck components near the riding surface appear cold while imperfections near the bottom of the deck give rise to concentrations of heat. These variations in thermal propagation patterns are observed by the infrared camera and indicate possible structural deficiencies. Results of experimentation and thermal analyses from laboratory studies of a model bridge deck and some from in situ full-scale investigations are presented. / Master of Science

The primary objective of this research was to experimentally investigate material and bond properties of three different types of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars, and determine their effect on the design of a bridge deck using FRP bars as the top mat of reinforcement. The properties evaluated include the tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, bond behavior, and maximum bond stress. The experimental program included 47 tensile tests and 42 beam end bond tests performed with FRP bars. Tensile strength of the bars from the tensile testing ranged from 529 MPa to 859 MPa. The average modulus, taken from all the testing, for each type of bar was found to range from 40 GPa to 43.7 GPa. The maximum bond stress from the beam end bond tests ranged from 9.17 MPa to 25 MPa. From the tests, design values were found in areas where the properties investigated were related. These design values include design tensile strength, design modulus of elasticity, bond coefficient for deflection calculations, bond coefficient for crack width calculations, and development length. The results and conclusions address design concerns of the different types of FRP bars as applied in the top mat of reinforcement of a bridge deck. A secondary objective was to evaluate the disparity in results between direct pullout tests, and beam end bond tests. Results from the experimentally performed beam end bond test were compared to previous literature involving the direct pullout tests. Results from the performed beam end bond tests were higher than all of the literature using direct pullout results. No recommendations were given on the disparity between the two test methods. / Master of Science

Yes / The results of testing two simply and three continuously supported concrete beams reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars are presented. The amount of GFRP reinforcement was the main parameter investigated. Over and under GFRP reinforcements were applied for the simply supported concrete beams. Three different GFRP reinforcement combinations of over and under reinforcement ratios were used for the top and bottom layers of the continuous concrete beams tested. A concrete continuous beam reinforced with steel bars was also tested for comparison purposes. The experimental results revealed that over-reinforcing the bottom layer of either the simply or continuously supported GFRP beams is a key factor in controlling the width and propagation of cracks, enhancing the load capacity, and reducing the deflection of such beams. Comparisons between experimental results and those obtained from simplified methods proposed by the ACI 440 Committee show that ACI 440.1R-06 equations can reasonably predict the load capacity and deflection of the simply and continuously supported GFRP reinforced concrete beams tested.

Yes / This paper reports the testing of five reinforced concrete continuous beams strengthened in flexure with externally bonded carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. All beams had the same geometrical dimensions and internal steel reinforcement. The main parameters studied were the position and form of the CFRP laminates. Three of the beams were strengthened using different arrangements of CFRP plate reinforcement, and one was strengthened using CFRP sheets. The performance of the CFRP-strengthened beams was compared with that of an unstrengthened control beam. Peeling failure was the dominant mode of failure for all the strengthened beams tested. The beam strengthened with both top and bottom CFRP plates produced the highest load capacity. It was found that the longitudinal elastic shear stresses at the adhesive/concrete interface calculated at beam failure were close to the limiting value recommended in Concrete Society Technical Report 55.

No / Although several research studies have been conducted on simply supported concrete elements reinforced with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) bars, there is little reported work on the behaviour of continuous elements. This paper reports the testing of four continuously supported concrete slabs reinforced with carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars. Different arrangements of CFRP reinforcement at mid-span and over the middle support were considered. Two simply supported concrete slabs reinforced with under and over CFRP reinforcement and a continuous concrete slab reinforced with steel bars were also tested for comparison purposes. All continuous CFRP reinforced concrete slabs exhibited a combined shear–flexure failure mode. It was also shown that increasing the bottom mid-span CFRP reinforcement of continuous slabs is more effective than the top over middle support CFRP reinforcement in improving the load capacity and reducing mid-span deflections. The ACI 440.1R–06 formulas overestimated the experimental moment at failure but better predicted the load capacity of continuous CFRP reinforced concrete slabs tested. The ACI 440.1R–06, ISIS–M03–07 and CSA S806-06 design code equations reasonably predicted the deflections of the CFRP continuously supported slabs having under reinforcement at the bottom layer but underestimated deflections of continuous slabs with over-reinforcement at the bottom layer.

Yes / This paper presents the experimental results of five large-scale hybrid glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP)-steel reinforced concrete continuous beams compared with two concrete continuous beams reinforced with either steel or GFRP bars as reference beams. In addition, two simply supported concrete beams reinforced with hybrid GFRP/steel were tested. The amount of longitudinal GFRP, steel reinforcements and area of steel bars to GFRP bars were the main investigated parameter in this study. The experimental results showed that increasing the GFRP reinforcement ratio simultaneously at the sagging and hogging zones resulted in an increase in the load capacity, however, less ductile behaviour. On the other hand, increasing the steel reinforcement ratio at critical sections resulted in more ductile behaviour, however, less load capacity increase after yielding of steel. The test results were compared with code equations and available theoretical models for predicting the beam load capacity and load-deflection response. It was concluded that Yoon's model reasonably predicted the deflection of the hybrid beams tested, whereas, the ACI.440.1R-15 equation underestimated the hybrid beam deflections. It was also shown that the load capacity prediction for hybrid reinforced concrete continuous beams based on a collapse mechanism with plastic hinges at mid-span and central support sections was reasonably close to the experimental failure load. / Higher Education of Libya (972/2007).

Yes / This paper presents test results of six full scale reinforced concrete continuous T beams. One beam was reinforced with glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars while the other five beams were reinforced with a different combination of GFRP and steel bars. The ratio of GFRP to steel reinforcement at both mid-span and middle-support sections was the main parameter investigated. The results showed that adding steel reinforcement to GFRP reinforced concrete T-beams improves the flexural stiffness, ductility and serviceability in terms of crack width and deflection control. However, the moment redistribution at failure was limited because of the early yielding of steel reinforcement at a beam section that does not reach its moment capacity and could still carry more loads due to the presence of FRP reinforcement. The experimental results were compared with the ultimate moment prediction of ACI 440.2R-17, and with the existing theoretical equations for deflection prediction. It was found that the ACI 440.2R-17 reasonably estimated the moment capacity of both mid-span and middle support sections. Conversely, the available theoretical deflection models underestimated the deflection of hybrid reinforced concrete T-beams at all load stages.

The aim of this master thesis is to explore and describe behavior of slab in punching shear. In total four concrete slabs were experimentally tested; each being reinforced differently. Using real experiments, there was a possibility to observe different behavior of steel and FRP reinforcement, eventually even the effect of adding FRP stirrups on load-bearing capacity. For the purpose of experimental testing design, currently placed formulas used to determine punching shear capacity were adjusted for application on longitudinal and shear FRP reinforcement. Atena software was used to approximate behavior of specimens by performing a nonlinear analysis. After the results of loading tests were obtained, next step was the comparison of design approaches and comparison of behavior of nonlinear model to a real specimen. In practical part, design of locally supported slab with requirement of non-magnetic reinforcement took place.

I dagsläget är de flesta broar i Sverige tillverkade med betong eller stål. Dessa broar är många gånger förknippade med stora kostnader som ofta beror på underhåll och reparation. FRP, som står för Fiber Reinforced Polymer, är ett relativt nytt material i bärande stommar men är ett väl etablerat material i förstärkningssammanhang. I Europa och i synnerhet Nederländerna finns det flertal broar byggda i FRP. Men på grund av brist på normer och regelverk att luta sig emot sker det sällan någon form av brokonstruktion med FRP i Sverige. Detta examensarbete syftar till att undersöka befintliga normer och studera hur materialet FRP används vid förstärkning och konstruktion av broar. Vidare syftar även arbetet till att undersöka egenskaperna hos FRP som byggmaterial och jämföra det med konventionella material som stål och betong. FRP, också benämnd fiberkomposit, är ett kompositmaterial som kan sammanställas på flera olika sätt. Genom olika material som kombineras och olika tillverkningsprocesser som används kan man på så sätt ge individuell utformning till materialet för dess användning. Fördelarna med FRP är många, men i allmänhet har det god styrka, god beständighet samtidigt som det har en låg vikt. Detta resulterar i att inom brokonstruktion så ger det strukturen en minskad egenvikt, vilket i sin tur underlättar en mängd olika saker. Detta arbete visar på att FRP-material har fördelaktiga egenskaper och kan i vissa situationer vara mer gynnsamt att använda än stål eller betong. Dock som tidigare påpekat saknas det specifika Eurokoder för detta material. Däremot är vi säkra på att introduktionen av en ny Eurokod samt med uppmuntran från myndigheter kommer användningen av FRP inom brokonstruktion utan tvekan öka. / At present, most bridges in Sweden are made with concrete or steel. These bridges are often associated with high costs, which often depend on maintenance and repair. FRP, which stands for Fiber Reinforced Polymer, is a relatively new material in load-bearing structures but is a well- established material in the context of reinforcement. In Europe and in particular the Netherlands, there are several bridges built in FRP. But due to a lack of norms and regulations to lean against, there is rarely any kind of FRP bridge construction in Sweden. The aim of this thesis is to examine existing norms and study how the material FRP is used in the reinforcement and construction of bridges. Furthermore, this thesis also aims to investigate the properties of FRP as building material and compare it with conventional materials such as steel and concrete. FRP, also called fiber-composite, is a composite material that can be assembled in several different ways. Through various materials that are combined and different manufacturing processes used, one can thus provide individual designs for the material. The benefits of FRP are many, but generally it has good strength, good durability while having a low weight. This results in that within bridge construction, it gives the structure a reduced self-weight, which in turn facilitates a variety of things. This thesis shows that FRP materials have advantageous properties and in some situations can be more favorable to use than steel or concrete. However, as previously pointed out, there are no specific Eurocodes for this material. However we are sure that the introduction of a new Eurocode and encouragement from authorities will undoubtedly increase the use of FRP in bridge construction.

The deterioration of highway bridges and structures and the cost of repairing, rehabilitating, or replacing deteriorated structures is a major issue for bridge owners. An aging infrastructure as well as the need to upgrade structural capacity for heavier trucks adds to problem. Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) is a useful tool for determining when the deployment of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite components is an economically viable alternative for rehabilitating deteriorated concrete bridges. The use of LCCA in bridge design and rehabilitation has been limited. The use of LCCA for bridges on a project level basis has often been limited to the non-routine design of major bridges where the life-cycle cost model is customized. LCCA has historically been deterministic. The deterministic analysis uses discrete values for inputs and is fairly simple and easy to do. It does not give any indication of risk, i.e. the probability that the input values used in the analysis and the resulting life-cycle cost will actually occur. Probabilistic analysis accounts for uncertainty and variability in input variables. It requires more effort than a deterministic analysis because probability distribution functions are required, random sampling is used, and a large number of iterations of the life-cycle cost calculations are carried out. The data needed is often not available. The significance of this study lies in its identification of the parameters that had the most influence on life-cycle costs of concrete bridge and how those parameters interacted. The parameters are: (1) Time to construct the new bridge; (2) traffic volume under bridge (when applicable); (3) value of time for cars; and (4) delay time under the bridge during new bridge construction (when applicable). Using these parameters the analyst can now “simulate” a probabilistic analysis by using the deterministic approach and reducing the number of iterations. This study also extended the use of LCCA to bridge rehabilitations and to bridges with low traffic volumes. A large number of bridges in the United States have low traffic volumes. For the highway bridge considered in the parametric study, rehabilitation using FRP had a lower life-cycle cost when compared to the new bridge alternative.