Carbon Fiber Shear Reinforcement for Prestressed Bridge Girders

Corrosion of reinforcing steel reduces life spans of bridges throughout the United States; therefore, using non-corroding carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcement is seen as a way to increase service life. The use of CFRP as the flexural reinforcement in bridge girders has been extensively studied. However, CFRP transverse reinforcement has not been investigated as rigorously, and many of those studies have focused on carbon fiber composite cable (CFCC®) stirrups. The use of C-Grid® or NEFMAC™ grid as options for transverse reinforcing has not been previously investigated. This testing program first determined the mechanical properties of C-Grid and NEFMAC grid and their respective development lengths. Five 18-ft long, 19-in deep beams were fabricated to test the C-Grid and NEFMAC, as well as conventional steel and CFCC stirrups. The beams were loaded with a single point load closer to one end of the beam to create a larger shear load for a given moment. Overall beam displacement was measured, and beams were fitted with rosettes and instrumentation to capture initiation of shear cracking. Test results were compared to theoretical shear capacities calculated using four different methods. The design method which provided the best prediction of shear strength was the AASHTO modified compression field theory, using equations for β and θ. The manufacturer’s guaranteed tensile strength should be used for design, as long as that strength is the average strength, as determined by at least five tests, reduced by three standard deviations. Shear cracks were controlled to a similar width as in beams with steel stirrups when at least two layers of grid were in place. An additional study was undertaken to determine if CFRP grids, either alone or in combination with traditional steel stirrups, could be used to control cracking in the end zones of pretensioned I-beams. Unfortunately, it was determined that, due to its low modulus, the amount of CFRP grid required to control cracking in the end zones was not economically feasible. Nevertheless, this study concluded that C-Grid and NEFMAC grid are both viable shear reinforcement options outside of the end regions. This report presents the initial recommendations for design.

• Record URL:
  https://cait.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cait-utc-nc2-final.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation

  Rutgers University
  100 Brett Road
  Piscataway, NJ  United States  08854-8058

  Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

  Center for Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure
  Blacksburg, VA  United States 

  Virginia Transportation Research Council

  Charlottesville, VA  United States 

  Virginia Department of Transportation

  1401 E Broad Street
  Richmond, VA  United States  23219

  Department of Transportation

  Office of Research and Technology
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Ward, John
  • Magee, Mitch
  • Roberts-Wollmann, Carin L
  • Cousins, Thomas E
• Publication Date: 2017-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 80p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carbon fibers; Girders; Material reinforcement; Prestressed concrete; Shear strength
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01679442
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: CAIT-UTC-NC2
• Contract Numbers: DTRT13-G-UTC28
• Files: UTC, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 27 2018 2:06PM