Abstract
The fretting fatigue performance of laminated, unidirectional (UD), pin-loaded, carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) straps that can be used as bridge hanger cables was investigated at a sustained service temperature of 60 °C. The aim of this paper is to elucidate the influence of the slightly elevated service temperature on the tensile fatigue performance of CFRP straps. First, steady state thermal tests at ambient temperature and at 60 °C are presented, in order to establish the behaviour of the straps at these temperatures. These results indicated that the static tensile performance of the straps is not affected by the increase in temperature. Subsequently, nine upper stress levels (USLs) between 650 and 1400 MPa were chosen in order to establish the S–N curve at 60 °C (frequency 10 Hz; R = 0.1) and a comparison with an existing S–N curve at ambient temperature was made. In general, the straps fatigue limit was slightly decreased by temperature, up to 750 MPa USL, while, for the higher USLs, the straps performed slightly better as compared with the S–N curve at ambient temperature.
Highlights
The use of carbon fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) is well established in applications where high strength and rigidity, low weight, and durability are important, e.g., in the aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, and civil construction sectors [1,2]
CFRP tensile elements, in the form of unidirectional straps, have been introduced in bridge construction; examples include a three-span footbridge in Cuenca, Spain [6], in which pin-loaded CFRP straps with stainlesssteel ring terminations are used in a stressed-ribbon bridge form, and a footbridge at Empa (Dübendorf, Switzerland) [7], in which pin-loaded non-laminated CFRP straps are used to prestress a timber bridge deck in a bowstring arch typology
This paper aims, to provide insights into the tensile fretting-fatigue performance of laminated, pin-loaded UD CFRP straps at elevated service temperatures
Summary
The use of carbon fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) is well established in applications where high strength and rigidity, low weight, and durability are important, e.g., in the aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, and civil construction sectors [1,2]. A recent milestone regarding the application of composite elements in bridge construction is the world’s first railway (tram) bridge, in which the deck suspension relies entirely on CFRP hangers (see Figure 1); this was completed in 2020, in Stuttgart, Germany [9]. The hangers, in this case, are pin-loaded laminated CFRP straps, wound around titanium eye connectors and connected to the bridge arch in a network-tied configuration. They demonstrated significant cost savings and lower CO2 emissions, in a life cycle assessment, when compared with conventional flat steel hangers
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