Performance Evaluation of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Deck Bridges

Abstract

FHWA 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 ...