Construction of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Jackets for the Protection of Pier Caps

A fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite jacket was fabricated to protect the deteriorating reinforced concrete pier caps of the Silver Spring Cove Bridge in Rhode Island. The pier caps had undergone severe spalling and cracking and reinforcements were exposed in a number of locations. Vacuum assisted impregnation technique that is used for the fabrication of aerospace structural components, was utilized for the fabrication of a composite jacket to cover the pier caps and stop further deterioration. Commonly referred to as “vacuum bagging” in the aerospace industry, this method is known to result in consistent high quality FRP laminates. This technique, rarely utilized in infrastructure applications, uses atmospheric pressure to remove air voids within the composite during lay-up and develops a strong bond between FRP layers. Excellent performance of fiberglass boats in marine environment for more than four decades provided the primary motivation for constructing fiberglass jackets to protect the pier caps.

• Record URL:
  • http://cait.rutgers.edu/files/RI-RU6862_0.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Rutgers University, Piscataway

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 623 Bowser Road
  Piscataway, NJ  United States  08854

  University of Rhode Island, Kingston

  Bliss Hall
  Kingston, RI  United States  02881

  Rhode Island Department of Transportation

  State Office Building, 2 Capitol Hill
  Providence, RI  United States  02903

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Balaguru, P N
  • Lee, K Wayne
  • 0000-0002-5204-9493
• Publication Date: 2005-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Construction Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 119p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerospace industry; Air voids; Atmospheric pressure; Bridge piers; Construction; Cracking; Deterioration; Fiber reinforced plastics; Fiberglass; Jacketing (Strengthening); Material reinforcement; Spalling; Vacuum
• Uncontrolled Terms: Pier caps; Vacuum bagging
• Geographic Terms: Rhode Island
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01031590
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: RI-RU6862
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 23 2006 4:06PM