Field Performance of FRP Bridge Repairs

TLDR

The deterioration of many U.S. county and state concrete bridges necessitates structural strengthening or load posting to extend service life. This study rehabilitated an Alabama concrete bridge by externally bonding FRP plates to its girders. Field load tests before and after FRP application recorded the bridge’s response to vehicle loads.

Abstract

Many reinforced concrete bridges throughout the United States on county and state highway systems are deteriorated and/or distressed to such a degree that structural strengthening of the bridge or reducing the allowable truck loading on the bridge by load posting is necessary to extend the service life of the bridge. The structural performance of many of these bridges can be improved through external bonding of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) laminates or plates. This paper describes the rehabilitation of an existing concrete bridge in Alabama through external bonding of FRP plates to the bridge girders. Field load tests were conducted before and after application of the FRP plates, and the response of the bridge to test vehicle loadings was recorded. Results of the field tests are reported, and the effects of the FRP plates on the bridge response are identified. The repaired bridge structure exhibited a decrease in steel reinforcing bar stresses and vertical midspan deflections. These decreases ranged from 4 to 12% for various static and dynamic loading cases.