The Route 601 Bridge in Sugar Grove, Virginia spans 39 ft over Dickey Creek. The Bridge is the first to use the Strongwell 36 in. fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) double web beam (DWB) in its superstructure. Replacement of the old bridge began in June 2001, and construction of the new bridge was completed in October 2001. The bridge was field tested in October 2001 and June 2002. This thesis details the field evaluation of the Rt. 601 Bridge. Using mid span deflection and strain data from the October 2001 and June 2002 field tests, the primary goal of this research was to determine the following AASHTO bridge design parameters: wheel load distribution factor g, dynamic load allowance IM, and maximum deflection. The wheel load distribution factor was determined to be S/5, a dynamic load allowance was determined to be 0.30, and the maximum deflection of the bridge was L/1500. Deflection results were lower than the AASHTO L/800 limit. This discrepancy is attributed to partial composite action of the deck-to-girder connections, bearing restraint at the supports, and contribution of guardrail stiffness. Secondary goals of this research were to quantify the effect of diaphragm removal on girder distribution factor, determine torsion and axial effects of the FRP girders, compare responses to multiple lane symmetrical loading to superimposed single lane response, and compare the field test results to a finite element and a finite difference model. It was found that diaphragm removal had a small effect on the wheel load distribution factor. Torsional and axial effects were small. The bridge response to multilane loading coincided with superimposed single lane truck passes, and curb-stiffening effects in a finite difference model improved the accuracy of modeling the Rt. 601 Bridge behavior. / Master of Science

The Route 601 Bridge spans 39 ft over Dickey Creek in Sugar Grove, VA and represents the first use of Strongwell's 36 in. double web beam (DWB) as the main load carrying members for a traffic bridge. The bridge was designed for AASHTO HS20-44 and AASHTO alternate military loading with a targeted deflection limit of L/800. For the preliminary design, conservative properties for the 36 in. DWB were assumed based on experience at Virginia Tech with Strongwell's 8 in. DWB used in the Tom's Creek Bridge. An elastic modulus (E) of 6,000 ksi and a shear stiffness (kGA) of 20,000 ksi-in2 were assumed and used with Timoshenko shear deformable beam theory to characterize the beams and determine the deflections. This thesis details the experimental work conducted in conjunction with the design of the Route 601 Bridge, which had two goals. First, a deck-to-girder connection was tested to determine if a bolted connection could develop composite action between the girder and the deck. This connection was shown to provide a significant amount of composite action when used with the 8 in. DWB and a composite deck, but little or no composite action when used with the 36 in. DWB and a glue-laminated timber deck. Second, eleven 36 in. DWB's were tested to determine their stiffness properties (EI and kGA) to insure that these properties were above the values assumed in the preliminary design, and all the beams had stiffness properties that were close to or above the assumed values. The eleven beams were also proof tested to a moment equivalent to five times the service load moment to insure the safety of the Route 601 Bridge, and one beam was tested to failure to determine the failure mode and residual stiffness of the 36 in. DWB. Finally, based on these results eight beams were chosen for the Route 601 Bridge. / Master of Science

Strengthening of reinforced columns confining by modern composite materials is effective method, allows quickly realized strengthening, without increase dimension of strengthening columns. Just like using reinforcing bars, is the mainly assumption for this method the multi-axis state tension and deducing confining pressure, which will increase strength of concrete. Improved of properties of confining concrete can be determined by using relationships, but there are considerably differences. This diploma theses, dealing with strengthening of circular reinforced columns confinement by external FRP fabric, compared approaches to design of reinforced concrete by confining and using the results of an analytical and numerical study to describe problem of confining concrete and compare factors influencing the final properties of the wrapped concrete.

The aim of the thesis is the strengthening and resistance of concrete construction. At the beginning is described composite reinforcement and their specific properties. The thesis specifically follows behavior concrete vault and the effects of load. Resistance vault is calculated by S&T model – strut and tie. Finally, the thesis contain strengthening construction by composite reinforcement. Strengthening is considered by two ways - strengthening by cohesive reinforcement and strengthening by incoherent reinforcement (wrapping).

This diploma thesis deals with the possibilities of additional reinforcement of wooden elements using different types of BFRP materials. In the practical part, an experiment of reinforcing plywood with external reinforcement using BFRP fabrics with different basis weights was performed. As part of the strength tests performed, the specimens were subjected to bending and shear stresses. To verify the bonding quality of the plywood, the bodies were exposed to the effect of elevated temperature and a delamination test was performed to determine the bonding quality of the plywood joints. The achieved values were evaluated and compared with the available literature.

Abstract : Deep reinforced concrete beams are commonly used as transfer girders or bridge bents, at which its safety is often crucial for the stability of the whole structure. Such elements are exposed to the aggressive environment in northern climates causing steel-corrosion problems due to the excessive use of de-icing salts. Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) emerged as non-corroded reinforcing materials to overcome such problems in RC elements. The present study aims to address the applicability of concrete deep beams totally reinforced with FRP bars. Ten full-scale deep beams with dimensions of 1200 × 300 × 5000 mm were constructed and tested to failure under two-point loading. Test variables were shear-span depth ratio (equal to 1.47, 1.13, and 0.83) and different configurations of web reinforcement (including vertical and/or horizontal web reinforcement). Failure of all specimens was preceded by crushing in the concrete diagonal strut, which is the typical failure of deep beams. The test results indicated that, all web reinforcement configurations employed in the tested specimens yielded insignificant effects on the ultimate strength. However, strength of specimens containing horizontal-only web reinforcement were unexpectedly lower than that of specimens without web reinforcement. The web reinforcement’s main contribution was significant crack-width control. The tested specimens exhibited reasonable deflection levels compared to the available steel-reinforced deep beams in the literature. The development of arch action was confirmed through the nearly uniform strain distribution along the length of the longitudinal reinforcement in all specimens. Additionally, the basic assumption of the strut-and-tie model (STM) was adequately used to predict the strain distribution along the longitudinal reinforcement, confirming the applicability of the STM for FRP-reinforced deep beams. Hence, a STM based model was proposed to predict the strength of FRP-reinforced deep beams using the experimental data, in addition to the available experimentally tested FRP-reinforced deep beams in the literature. Assessment of the available STMs in code provisions was conducted identifying the important parameters affecting the strut efficiency factor. The tendency of each parameter (concrete compressive strength, shear span-depth ratio, and strain in longitudinal reinforcement) was individually evaluated against the efficiency factor. Strain energy based calculations were performed to identify the appropriate truss model for detailing FRP-reinforced deep beams, hence, only four specimens with vertical web reinforcement exhibited the formation of two-panel truss model. The proposed model was capable to predict the ultimate capacity of the tested deep beams. The model was also verified against a compilation of a data-base of 172 steel-reinforced deep beams resulting in acceptable level of adequacy. The ultimate capacity and performance of the tested deep beams were also adequately predicted employing a 2D finite element program (VecTor2), which provide a powerful tool to predict the behavior of FRP-reinforced deep beams. The nonlinear finite element analysis was used to confirm some hypotheses associated with the experimental investigations. / Résumé : Les poutres profondes en béton armé (BA) sont couramment utilisées comme poutre de transfert ou coude de pont, comme quoi sa sécurité est souvent cruciale pour la sécurité de l’ensemble de la structure. Ces éléments sont exposés à un environnement agressif dans les climats nordiques causant des problèmes de corrosion de l’acier en raison de l’utilisation excessive de sels de déglaçage. Les polymères renforcés de fibres (PRF) sont apparus comme des matériaux de renforcement non corrodant pour surmonter ces problèmes dans les BA. La présente étude vise à examiner la question de l'applicabilité des poutres profondes en béton complètement renforcées de barres en PRF. Dix poutres profondes à grande échelle avec des dimensions de 1200 × 300 × 5000 mm ont été construites et testées jusqu’à la rupture sous chargement en deux points. Les variables testées comprenaient différents ratios de cisaillement porté/profondeur (égal à 1.47, 1.13 et 0.83) ainsi que différentes configurations d’armature dans l’âme (incluant un renforcement vertical avec ou sans renforcement horizontal). La rupture de tous les spécimens a été précédée par l’écrasement du béton dans le mât diagonal, ce qui est la rupture typique pour les poutres profondes en BA. Les résultats ont révélé que toutes les configurations de renforcement de l’âme employées dans les spécimens d'essais avaient un effet négligeable sur la résistance ultime. Toutefois, la résistance des spécimens contenant uniquement un renforcement horizontal était étonnamment inférieure à celle des spécimens sans renforcement. La contribution principale du renforcement de l’âme était dans le contrôle de la largeur de fissuration. Les spécimens examinés présentaient une déflexion raisonnable par rapport à ce qui est disponible pour les poutres profondes renforcées en acier dans la littérature. Le développement de l'effet d'arche a été confirmé par la distribution quasi uniforme des déformations le long du renforcement longitudinal dans tous les spécimens. En outre, l'hypothèse de base du modèle des bielles et tirants (MBT) a été utilisée adéquatement pour prédire la distribution de déformation le long du renforcement longitudinal, confirmant l'applicabilité du MBT pour les poutres profondes armées de PRF. Par conséquent, un modèle basé sur un MBT a été proposé afin de prédire la résistance des poutres profondes renforcées de PRF en utilisant les données expérimentales en plus de la mise à l'épreuve expérimentalement des poutres profondes renforcées de PRF trouvées dans la littérature. Une évaluation des MTB disponibles dans les dispositions des codes a été menée afin de déterminer les paramètres importants affectant le facteur d'efficacité de la bielle. La tendance de chaque paramètre (la résistance à la compression du béton, le ratio de cisaillement porté/profondeur, et la déformation dans le renforcement longitudinal) a été évaluée individuellement contre le facteur d'efficacité. Des calculs basés sur l’énergie des déformations ont été effectués pour identifier le modèle de treillis approprié afin de détailler les poutres profondes renforcées de PRF. Par conséquent, seulement quatre spécimens avec un renforcement vertical dans l’âme présentaient la formation de modèles avec deux panneaux de treillis. Le modèle proposé a été capable de prédire la capacité ultime des poutres profondes testées. Le modèle a également été vérifié contre une base de données de 172 poutres profondes renforcées en acier aboutissant en un niveau acceptable de pertinence. La capacité ultime et la performance des poutres profondes testées ont été également adéquatement prédites employant un programme d'éléments finis en 2D (VecTor2), ce qui fournira un puissant outil pour prédire le comportement des poutres profondes renforcées de PRF. L'analyse non linéaire par éléments finis a été utilisée afin de confirmer certaines hypothèses associées à l'étude expérimentale.

Increasing mechanical, economic and environmental requirements lead to multi material designs, wherein different classes of materials and manufacturing processes are merged to realize lightweight components with a high level of functional integration. Particularly in automotive industry the use of corresponding technologies will rise in the near future, as they can provide a significant contribution to weight reduction, energy conservation and therefore to the protection of natural resources. Especially the use of continuous fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) with thermoplastic matrices offers advantages for automotive components, due to its good specific characteristics and its suitability for mass production. In conjunction with isotropic materials, such as steel or aluminum, optimized lightweight structures can be produced, whose properties can be easily adapted to the given component requirements. The present paper deals with the development of innovative hybrid laminates with low residual stresses, made of thin-walled steel sheets and glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic (GFRP) prepregs layers. Thereby the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) was increased by an optimization of the FRP/metal-interfaces, carried out by examining the influence of several pre-operations like sanding, cleaning with organic solvents and applying primer systems. Based on these findings optimized compound samples were prepared and tested under realistic Cathodic dip paint conditions to determine the influence on the ILSS.

External post-tensioning is an attractive technique for strengthening reinforced concrete structures because of its ability to actively control stresses and deflections, speed of installation, minimum interruption for the existing structure, and ease of inspection under service conditions. However, external prestressing implies exposing the tendons to the environment outside the concrete section, which may lead to corrosion in steel tendons. Therefore, the interest in using fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tendons, which are corrosion resistant, has increased. The present work investigated, experimentally and analytically, the flexural performance of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with externally post-tensioned Carbon FRP (CFRP) tendons, under monotonic and fatigue loadings. Initially, tensile fatigue tests were carried out on CFRP tendon-anchor assemblies to assess their response under repeated cyclic loads, before implementing them in the beam tests. New wedge-type anchors (Waterloo anchors) were used in gripping the CFRP specimens. The assemblies exhibited excellent fatigue performance with no premature failure occurring at the anchorage zone. The fatigue tests suggested a fatigue limit of a stress range of 10% of the tendon ultimate capacity (approximately 216 MPa). Monotonic and fatigue experiments on twenty-eight beams (152x254x3500 mm) were then undertaken. Test parameters included the tendon profile (straight and double draped), the initial loading condition of the beam prior to post-tensioning (in-service and overloading), the partial prestressing ratio (0.36 and 0.46), and the load ranges applied to the beam during the fatigue life (39% to 76% of the yield load). The CFRP tendons were post-tensioned at 40% of their ultimate capacity. The monotonic tests of the post-tensioned beams suggested that overloading the beam prior to post-tensioning increased the beam deflections and the strains developed in the steel reinforcing bars at any stage of loading. However, overloading had no significant effect on the yield load of the strengthened beam and the mode of failure at ultimate. It also had no discernable effect on the increase in the tendon stress at yielding. The maximum increase in the CFRP stress at yield load was approximately 20% of the initial post-tensioning stress, for the in-service and overloaded beams. A very good performance of the strengthened beams was observed under fatigue loading. The fatigue life of the beams was mainly governed by the fatigue fracture of the internal steel reinforcing bars at a flexural crack location. Fracture of the bars occurred at the root of a rib where high stress concentration was likely to occur. No evidence of wear or stress concentration were observed at the deviated points of the CFRP tendons due to fatigue. The enhancement in the fatigue life of the strengthened beams was noticeable at all load ranges applied. Post-tensioning considerably decreased the stresses in the steel reinforcing bars and, consequently, increased the fatigue life of the beams. The increase in the fatigue life was slightly affected by the loading history of the beams. At the same load range applied to the beam, increasing the amount of the steel reinforcing bars for the same post-tensioning level decreased the stress range in the bars and significantly increased the fatigue life of the strengthened beams. In the analytical study, a monotonic model that predicts the non-linear flexural response of the CFRP post-tensioned beams was developed and implemented into a computer program. The model takes into account the loading history of the strengthened beams prior to post-tensioning (in-service and overloading). Good agreement was obtained between the measured and the predicted monotonic results. A strain-life based fatigue model was proposed to predict the fatigue life of the CFRP post-tensioned beams. The model takes into consideration the stress-strain history at the stress raisers in the steel bars. It accounts for the inelastic deformation occurring at the ribs during cycling and the resulting changes in the local mean stresses induced. Good agreement between the experimental and predicted fatigue results was observed. A step-by-step fatigue design approach is proposed for the CFRP externally post-tensioned beams. General conclusions of the study and recommendations of future work are given.

Im Rahmen des Bundesxzellenzclusters MERGE EXC 1075 an der TU Chemnitz erfolgte die Entwicklung einer neuartigen großserientauglichen Technologie zur Herstellung faserverstärkter Thermoplastbauteile. Für die Demonstration der Technologie wurde eine Pilotanlage realisiert, die zum Ablegen des Thermoplasttapes über eine Verlegeeinheit – einen sog. Tapelegekopf – verfügt. Mit Abschluss des Legeprozesses wird das Halbzeug, das aus einer angebremsten Spule abgezogen wird, abgeschnitten und der Prozess wird von neuem begonnen. Für das Schneiden des Materials haben Voruntersuchungen gezeigt, dass konturierte Klingen erforderlich sind, um ein Verlaufen des Bandes zu vermeiden. Darüber hinaus hat sich als zweckmäßig erwiesen eine zusätzliche Fixierung vorzunehmen. Dies verbessert die Schnittqualität und Zuverlässigkeit des Systems. Aufgrund enger Bauraumrestriktionen wurde entschieden die Schneidbewegung und das Fixieren zwangläufig synchronisiert auf einen Antrieb zurück zu führen. Hierfür wurden zwei ungleichmäßige Rastgetriebe synthetisiert, ausgelegt sowie in weiteren Entwicklungsstufen auskonstruiert, gefertigt und getestet. Mit der Inbetriebnahme des Gesamtanlagensystems erfolgte ebenfalls der Funktionsnachweis dieses mechanisch zwangläufigen Schneidsystems, das im Rahmen des Vortrags vorgestellt wird. Diese Arbeiten entstanden im Rahmen des Bundesexzellenzclusters EXC 1075 „Technologiefusion für multifunktionale Leichtbaustrukturen“ und wurde von der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft gefördert. Die Autoren danken für die finanzielle Unterstützung.

Résumé : Les dalles de tabliers de ponts et des stationnements sont exposées à des environnements agressifs en particulier au Québec et en Amérique du Nord en raison de l'utilisation de sels de déglaçage et des cycles de gel-dégel. La substitution des armatures d’acier par des armatures en matériaux composites de polymères renforcés de fibres (PRF) constitue une alternative intéressante qui connait beaucoup de succès ces dernières années. Le béton armé de PRF est durable, car l’armature n’est pas sujette à la corrosion électrochimique. Aussi l’armature de PRF possède une résistance en traction élevée et est légère. En Amérique du Nord, l’utilisation des composites de PRF a suscité une attention toute particulière de la part des ingénieurs et des gestionnaires d’ouvrages. Plusieurs organismes dont des ministères de transport spécifient l’armature de PRF comme matériau structural dans leurs devis techniques pour lutter contre la corrosion et allonger la durée de service de leurs infrastructures. Les dalles en béton armé sont souvent soumises à des efforts de cisaillement critiques. Actuellement les méthodes de calcul au cisaillement (à l’effort tranchant) de dalles unidirectionnelles en béton armé de PRF différèrent d’une norme à une autre. En effet, la majorité des équations proposées dans les normes et guides de conception ont dérivées à partir de relations empiriques. Bien que des efforts de recherche considérables aient été consacrés dans ce domaine au cours de la dernière décennie, une meilleure compréhension du comportement au cisaillement et des mécanismes de rupture de dalles unidirectionnelles en béton armé de PRF est encore nécessaire. Dans cette recherche, un programme expérimental visant à étudier le comportement de dalles renforcées avec différents types de barres en PRF a été mis en place. Vingt-deux dalles unidirectionnelles en béton renforcées avec des barres de PRF ont été construites et testées en flexion a quatre points jusqu’à la rupture. Les paramètres d’étude comprennent : le type et le taux d’armature, le diamètre de la barre, l’espacement et la configuration de l’armature ainsi que la résistance en compression du béton afin d’examiner leur effet sur la résistance au cisaillement des dalles. Le comportement des dalles testées a été examiné en considérant le réseau de fissures, la charge ultime ainsi que les modes de rupture. Aussi, une base de données comprenant 203 poutres et dalles unidirectionnelles en béton armé de PRF rompues en cisaillement a été répertoriée et introduite dans les analyses. Les charges de rupture en cisaillement des dalles testées dans le cadre de cette thèse ainsi que celles de la base de données ont été comparées à celles prédites par les équations de calcul proposées par la normes canadiennes CSA S6-06/S1 et CSA S806-12, ainsi que celles des deux guides de calcul ACI 440.1R-06 et JSCE-97. Les analyses effectuées ont montré que les valeurs prédites par les équations de calcul proposées par l’ACI 440.1R-06 sont très conservatrices, alors que celles prédites par celles de JSCE-97 sont en meilleur accord avec les valeurs expérimentales. Aussi, les résultats obtenus ont montré que les équations de la nouvelle norme CSA S806-12 prédisent bien la résistance au cisaillement expérimentale. Toutefois, une amélioration de l'équation de la norme CSAS806-12, conduisant à de meilleurs résultats, est proposée. Par ailleurs, les résultats obtenus dans le cadre de cette thèse ont mené à une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes de rupture et des facteurs principaux qui contribuent à la résistance au cisaillement de dalles unidirectionnelles en béton armée de PRF. Enfin, des recommandations pour des travaux futurs y sont également formulées. // Abstract : Bridge deck and parking garage slabs are exposed to aggressive environments particularly in the North American regions resulting from the excessive use of de-icing salts. Fiber-reinforced-polymer (FRP) reinforcements have emerged as a practical and sustainable anti-corrosive reinforcing material with superior tensile strength to overcome the corrosion problem. High comfort level and increase use of the material is currently seen. Protection and regulations policies of some Public North American agencies currently include GFRP reinforcing bars as premium reinforcement. Shear behaviour in RC slabs is examined since most of the bridge deck and parking garage slabs are shear critical. However, there is still no agreement in FRP design codes and guidelines for shear strength equations. Several design code equations are still based on empirical relationships while recent developments are based on shear theories. The complex nature of shear phenomena which is influenced by many parameters, in addition to the existence of various schools of thoughts in shear, makes it difficult to find a general agreement on a unified equation. Huge research efforts are being established, however better understanding for the shear behaviour and failure mechanisms for unidirectional FRP RC slabs is still needed. In this research study, an experimental program was designed to investigate the shear behaviour of one-way concrete slabs reinforced with different types of FRP bars. A total of twenty one concrete slabs reinforced with FRP bars in addition to a steel reinforced slab were constructed and tested to failure under two-point loading. The variation in the concrete contribution to the shear strength V[subscript c] is investigated with respect to FRP reinforcement properties. Newly developed GFRP bars with high modulus, which were not previously investigated in the literature, are used. Different FRP reinforcement properties were included in the study such as reinforcement ratio, modulus of elasticity and axial stiffness, type of bars, and reinforcement configuration. Also, normal concrete and high strength concrete were considered in the research program. Analysis of the experimental results included the general behavior of the tested slabs, crack patterns, ultimate capacities, and modes of failure, load deflection relationships as well as the concrete and reinforcement strains. Test results of the present investigation indicate an influence of the reinforcement type, bar diameter, and the shear stiffness of the bars on the mode of failure and the shear strength. The experimental investigation and analysis of test results provided better understanding of concerning mechanisms of failure and factors contributing to the shear capacity of FRP RC slabs. A refined shear model to the CSA S806-12 is introduced and found to provide better results compared to the existing design codes and guidelines. The model is based on regression analysis of an experimental database. The database is assembled from twenty five different studies in addition to the present investigation. The used database includes 203 unidirectional members reinforced with FRP bars (without shear reinforcement) failing in shear. The model was evaluated through the experimental concrete shear capacities (V[subscript c exp]) of the database and found to provide good predictions. The experimental shear capacities of the database ( V[subscript c exp]) was compared to their corresponding predicted shear capacities (Vcpred ) using CSA S806-12, CAN/CSA-S6.1S1, ACI 440.1R-06, and JSCE-97. It was found that the ACI guide is very conservative. It can be noted that using this guide in its present form may reduce the economic competitiveness of fibre-reinforced polymers. JSCE recommendations are in better agreement with the test results. The Canadian CSA S806-12 equation was found to be in good fit with the experimental shear capacities.