Experimental testing of a smart FRP-concrete composite bridge superstructure

Abstract

A new kind of smart fiber reinforced polymer (FRP)-concrete composite bridge superstructure, which consists of two bridge decks and each bridge deck is comprised of four FRP box sections combined with a thin layer of concrete in the compression zone, was developed by using eight embedded FBG sensors in the top and bottom flanges of the FRP box sections at mid-span section of one bridge deck along longitudinal direction, respectively. The flexural behavior of the proposed smart composite bridge superstructure was experimentally studied in four-point loading. The longitudinal strains of the composite bridge superstructure were recorded using the embedded FBG sensors as well as the surfacebonded electric resistance strain gauges. Test results indicate that the FBG sensors can faithfully record the longitudinal strain of the composite bridge superstructure in tension at bottom flange of the FRP box sections or in compression at top flange over the entire loading range, as compared with the surface-bonded strain gauges. The proposed smart FRPconcrete composite bridge superstructure can monitor its longitudinal strains in serviceability limit state as well as in strength limit state, and will has wide applications for long-term monitoring in civil engineering.