Abstract
Corrosion of reinforcing steel bars is the main factor affecting durability and service life of steel-reinforced bridge barriers in North America. The use of glass fiber reinforcing polymer (GFRP) bars as non-corrosive material has emerged as an innovative solution to corrosion related problems. A recent cost-effective design of PL-3 bridge barrier was developed at Ryerson University incorporating high-modulus GFRP bars with headed ends. An experimental program was conducted to investigate the load carrying capacity of the developed barrier wall. A 40-m long barrier was constructed and tested at four different locations to investigate its structural behavior, crack pattern and ultimate strength when subjected to the equivalent static loading simulating vehicle impact. Experimental results were compared with the design values specified in the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code. Experimental findings showed a large margin of safety for the proposed GFRP-reinforced barriers. The failure pattern due to transversal loading the longitudinal barrier over 2400 mm length was initiated by a trapezoidal flexural crack pattern at front face of the barrier, followed by punching shear failure at the transverse load location. Comparison between the available punching shear equations in the literature and the punching shear failure developed in the barrier wall was conducted.
Highlights
In Canada, bridges built prior to the 1970s did not use air-entrained concrete and coated reinforcing steel bars to protect from the effects of freeze–thaw cycles and the application of winter deicing salt
4.1 Location 1: Barrier Segment at End Location In this test, the barrier wall was loaded at its end with a line load over 2400 mm length
It was observed that with increase in load, horizontal crack appeared at the front side of the barrier wall–deck slab junction
Summary
In Canada, bridges built prior to the 1970s did not use air-entrained concrete and coated reinforcing steel bars to protect from the effects of freeze–thaw cycles and the application of winter deicing salt. Maheu and Bakht (1994) developed a new barrier wall using GFRP, New Fiber Composite Material for Reinforcing Concrete (NEFMAC) grids, with connection to the deck slab by means of double-headed tension bars of steel spaced at 300 mm This new barrier wall system was adopted in the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CSA 2006a). While Eqs. 3 and 4 are applicable to the cantilever portion of the slab-on-girder bridges supporting the PL-3 barrier wall These moment values can be used to design the barrier–deck junction with respect to vertical bar sizes and spacing, as well as their embedment length in deck slab.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
