Fibre reinforced polymer strengthening of the Sainte-Émélie-de-l'Énergie bridge: design, instrumentation, and field testing

Abstract

An experimental research project was undertaken to evaluate the need to strengthen existing reinforced concrete bridges belonging to the Ministère des Transports du Québec. A typical bridge consisting of a single-span bridge with T-shaped sections was identified. Evaluation of the bridge showed that an increase in bending strength and shear strength would be necessary to satisfy current loading conditions and code requirements. The increase in bending strength was obtained by bonding carbon-reinforced composite materials to the underface of the beams, with fibres in the longitudinal direction. External U-shaped stirrups made of glass-reinforced composite materials were installed on the outside faces of the beams in order to increase their shear strength. This paper presents a selection of experimental results initially obtained on T-section beams, scaled 1:3 with respect to the bridge under consideration. The actual reinforcement scheme selected for the bridge is then presented, accompanied by comments on the construction process. Conventional instrumentation and fibre optic sensors were incorporated to the repair work in order to evaluate the behaviour of the bridge, before and after strengthening. Initial results of this ongoing evaluation are presented here.Key words: bridge strengthening, FRP, composite materials, instrumentation, field testing.