ADVANCED COMPOSITES FOR BRIDGE INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

Applications of advanced composite materials such as glass fibers, aramids, or carbon fibers in polymer matrices are important in extending the life of our nation's bridge infrastructure into the 21st century. The increasing number of deficient bridge structures necessitates the rapid development of new rehabilitation technologies in the form of new materials and applications, with proven structural effectiveness, quality control, durability, and affordability. Advanced composite materials offer unique mechanical and durability characteristics that can affect bridge infrastructure renewal. Recent developments in automated manufacturing and application processes of advanced composite structural components indicate that not only structurally, but also economically, these new materials are becoming very competitive in civil engineering applications. Research at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), by the Advanced Composites Technology Transfer Consortium (ACTT), shows that, for example, seismically deficient bridge columns can be wrapped with carbon fibers in an automated fashion, reducing current time requirements for equivalent steel jacket installations, and advanced composite replacement bridge decks can be built in one-step manufacturing processes at weight savings by a factor of 10 or more over conventional concrete decks.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: p. 348-357
  • Monograph Title: FOURTH INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ENGINEERING CONFERENCE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, AUGUST 28-30, 1995. CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS, 2 VOLUMES
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00711703
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 0309061091
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Sep 5 1995 12:00AM