Use of nonferrous fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement bars (rebars) offers one promising alternative to mitigating the corrosion problem in steel reinforced concrete bridge decks. Resistance to chloride-ion driven corrosion, high tensile strength, nonconductive property and lightweight characteristics make FRP rebars attractive. However, there are design challenges in the use of FRP reinforcement for concrete including concerns about structural ductility, low stiffness, and questions about their fatigue response and long-term durability. The report presents results from a three-year collaborative investigation conducted by the University of Missouri-Columbia (UMC) and the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR). Details of the investigation, results and discussions from static and fatigue studies are presented including experimental programs on bond, flexural ductility, accelerated durability, and full-scale slab tests. Based on the results from this investigation, the use of a hybrid reinforced concrete deck slab is recommended for field implementation. The hybrid reinforcement comprises a combination of GFRP and CFRP continuous reinforcing bars with the concrete matrix also reinforced with 0.5% volume fraction of 2-in. long fibrillated polypropylene fibers. A working stress based flexural design procedure with mandatory check for ultimate capacity and failure mode is recommended.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Aug 2013 11:00:29 +0000
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