Composite structural members for short span highway bridges
Abstract
This research focused on the development of a structural system
composed of a reinforced concrete (RC) deck and fiber reinforced plastic
(FRP) girders and arches. The deck and the girders were designed to carry
the load by means of composite action. This system can be used in
applications such as short span bridges. The research study involved both
experimental and analytical work.
In all, six full-scale specimens were tested. Each specimen was
composed of an RC deck and an FRP component, i.e. girder, arches. The
length of each specimen was 30 ft, with a clear span between supports of
28.5 ft. The RC deck had an average width of 4 ft., and a thickness of 6 in.
Both short and long term loading was considered.
Pultruded and contact molded FRP girders were utilized. A pair of
arches assembled with filament wound FRP pipes also was studied as an
alternative to the girders.
Based on the experimental results, the structural system proposed was
found to be suitable for short span bridge applications. Furthermore, the
excellent corrosion resistance of the FRP makes this system ideal for
applications in corrosive environments.
Finally, the experimental data was used to develop design
recommendations for the proposed structural system.
Description
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