Construction and monitoring of a single-span bridge with precast concrete glass-fiberreinforced polymer reinforced deck panels

Abstract

The Beaver Creek Bridge in Utah is a single-span crossing with access for wildlife passage. It was built in 2009 using 44 precast concrete panels reinforced with glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. In this paper, monitoring data from two panels during lifting, transport, posttensioning, and static load testing is presented. Findings from the monitoring indicate that the relative deflections between the bridge deck and the diaphragms were small. This shows that the connections between precast concrete deck panels and prestressed concrete girders provide good composite action. The live load deflections of the prestressed concrete girders during static load testing were well within allowable limits. The strains measured during lifting and in the load tests indicate that the ACI 440.1R-06 flexural design method for GFRP reinforced concrete decks can be applied to precast concrete panels, provided that lifting and handling stresses are properly designed. A cost comparison of precast concrete deck panels reinforced with GFRP bars versus steel bars indicates that the GFRP bar reinforcement is an economically viable option.