CFRP REPAIR OF IMPACT-DAMAGED BRIDGE GIRDERS. VOLUME II - INSPECTION OF FRP COMPOSITE REPAIRS USING INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY

This report presents infrared (IR) thermography results from a series of laboratory experiments conducted on full-scale AASHTO concrete bridge girders. Vehicle impact damage was simulated in each girder by cutting four prestressing tendons at midspan. A fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) strengthening system was then applied to restore each girder's flexural capacity. IR inspections were conducted after each system was installed and also during load testing to evaluate the bond between the FRP and concrete. Results from the laboratory experiments indicate that IR thermography is a potentially powerful tool for evaluating bond in FRP strengthening systems. Two important findings were that the type of FRP system and the installation procedure used significantly influences IR thermography results. Single-layer carbon fiber systems seem very well suited to the technique; however, the ability to identify defects decreases with FRP system thickness. This report also includes IR inspection results for in-service bridge girders that had sustained impact damage and were repaired with FRP composites.

• Record URL:
  http://ftp.fdot.gov/file/d/FTP/FDOT%20LTS/CO/research/Completed_Proj/Summary_STR/FDOT_BC354_55_2_rpt.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  http://ftp.fdot.gov/file/d/FTP/FDOT%20LTS/CO/research/Completed_Proj/Summary_STR/FDOT_BC354_55_2.pdf
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Florida, Gainesville

  Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, P.O. Box 116580
  Gainesville, FL  United States  32611-6580

  Florida Department of Transportation

  605 Suwannee Street
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Authors:
  • Brown, J R
  • Hamilton III, H R
• Publication Date: 2005-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 35 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bond strength (Materials); Bridges; Carbon fibers; Concrete; Fiber reinforced materials; Girders; Infrared detectors; Laboratory studies; Nondestructive tests; Polymers; Repairing; Strengthening (Maintenance); Thermographs
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I35: Miscellaneous Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00988039
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 4910 45 04 879, Final Report
• Contract Numbers: BC354 RPWO #55
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 4 2005 12:00AM