| New materials and design methods are being investigated for the design of bridge components to alleviate the current devastating corrosion problems. A research project was initiated at the University of Missouri (UM) and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to develop a nonferrous hybrid reinforcement system for concrete bridge decks by using continuous fiber-reinforced-polymer (FRP) rebars and discrete randomly distributed polypropylene fibers. This hybrid system may eliminate problems related to corrosion of steel reinforcement while providing requisite strength, stiffness, and desired ductility, which are shortcomings of FRP reinforcement system in reinforced concrete.; The overall study plan includes: (1) development of design procedures for an FRP/FRC hybrid reinforced bridge deck, (2) laboratory studies of static and fatigue bond performances and ductility characteristics of the system, (3) accelerated durability tests of the system, and (4) static and fatigue tests on full-scale hybrid reinforced composite bridge decks (this was conducted at University of Missouri - Columbia).; The test results showed that with the addition of fibers, structural performances of the system are improved. Although polypropylene fibers do not increase the ultimate bond strength, they provide enhanced ductile bond behavior. Also, with the addition of fibers, the flexural behaviors are improved with the increase of the ductility index mu by approximately 40%, as compared to the plain concrete beams. In addition, with the addition of polypropylene fibers, the durability of the system was improved. Furthermore, some design recommendations are proposed based on analytical models and test results. |
