Analysis and Testing of a Bridge Deck Reinforced With GFRP Rebars

摘要

The present project had two main objectives, to experimentally and analytically investigate a bridge deck reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymer rebars, and to perform durability tests on four rebar types. An analytical investigation was performed using the finite element software ANSYS for both the actual bridge deck, and for the reduced size laboratory experiment. In addition, laboratory experiments were also performed on an 11 ft long bridge deck model built inside the structures lab. Except for the length of the girder-deck model, the true scale was used for every other dimension. Three different tests were performed on the model, and the test data verified the analytical results. Once completed, this bridge located in Macon County was instrumented and tested using two loaded tandem trucks. For the durability testing, four different types of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) reinforcement provided by different rebar vendors were evaluated under exposure to an alkaline environment at different temperatures. For the moisture tests, a total of 96 specimens were monitored for changes in length, diameter, and weight. A total 128 unscathed samples and 64 nicked samples simulating defects to the rebars that might occur on the field site were tested in tension to determine the rate of degradation in tensile properties. Concrete cylinders were poured, and 168 pullout specimens were tested.