Performance Evaluation of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Deck Bridges

The Federal Highway Administration is committed to the strategic goals of rehabilitating the nation's bridges that are structurally deficient. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are among the advanced materials that appear to have great potential in bridge deck repair and replacements. In West Virginia alone, more than 30 bridges have been built or rehabilitated with FRP composite materials. Katy Truss and Market Street are two such bridges constructed with FRP bridge decks, and they are being monitored. The West Virginia University Constructed Facilities Center along with the West Virginia Department of Transportation initiated field monitoring of these bridges by performing static and dynamic load tests. The response measurements from controlled truck load tests on the two bridges included (a) deck and stringer strains and (b) deflections and deck accelerations. The following static response parameters were computed from measured data: (a) degree of composite action between deck and stringer, (b) transverse load distribution factor, and (c) stringer and deck stresses and deflections. The following dynamic response parameters were evaluated: (a) dynamic load allowance factors, (b) natural frequencies, and (c) damping ratios. The static and dynamic performance evaluations of Katy Truss and Market Street Bridges are highlighted here. This study found that, under static load, the stresses and deflections for deck and stringers of both bridges were well within the design limits. It was found that, on the basis of dynamic tests, deck accelerations due to trucks traveling were perceptible to bridge users. The high accelerations are attributed to the low inherent damping of these two bridges.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/trr.11s.vph7qm7487173682
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Performance+Evaluation+of+Fiber-Reinforced+Polymer+Composite+Deck+Bridges&author=V.+Shekar&author=S.+Aluri&author=H.+GangaRao&publication_year=2005
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Public/Blurbs/156132.aspx
• Authors:
  • Shekar, Vimala
  • Aluri, Srinivas
  • GangaRao, Hota V S
• Conference:
  • 6th International Bridge Engineering Conference: Reliability, Security, and Sustainability in Bridge Engineering
  • Location: Boston MA, United States
  • Date: 2005-7-17 to 2005-7-20
• Publication Date: 2005

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 465-472
• Monograph Title: 6th International Bridge Engineering Conference, July 17-20, 2005
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: CD 11-S
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Composite materials; Damping (Engineering); Deflection; Dynamic loads; Fiber reinforced plastics; Load tests; Load transfer; Natural frequency; Static loads; Strain (Mechanics); Stresses; Stringers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Composite action
• Geographic Terms: West Virginia
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01002491
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309093813
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jul 27 2005 1:44PM