FAILURE MODES AND FAILURE MECHANISMS OF FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITE BRIDGE DECKS

摘要

A systematic testing program was conducted to investigate the failure modes and failurernmechanisms of multi-cellular FRP composite bridge decks. To compare loading patch effects on deckrnlocal failure, a steel patch made according to AASHTO specifications and a special rubber-stuffed truckrntire patch were used in lab testing. The testing results showed that the failure of FRP deck using steelrnpatch was local punching and shear cracking; while the deck failure using tire patch was local bendingrnfailure. Deck–loading patch contacting analyses were also conducted using Finite Element Method. Thisrnresearch showed that the failure modes of the investigated multi-cellular FRP deck systems were relatedrnto the stiffness and deformability of the loading patches.