frp bridge deck
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This paper presents an experimental material campaign focusing on fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) to be applied in a novel bridge deck panel. Laminas based on most commonly used fibers, i.e., glass, carbon, basalt and aramid, were prepared and studied in tension, shear and compression. In the subsequent test stages, different fabric reinforcements (uni- and bi-directional fabrics, woven fabrics, CSM layers) were considered for glass laminas only, and finally, a resultant laminate was designed and tested. Such an approach gives a great opportunity to create “tailor-made” laminates, as required in FRP bridge deck panels. Simultaneously with the laboratory tests, analytical calculations were performed using a few micromechanical models that aimed to determine engineering constants and strength parameters. Then, the results obtained from material testing and analytical calculations were compared, and conclusions on the compliance were drawn. Based on this validation, further analytical calculations may replace time-consuming laboratory tests and facilitate FRP deck design.

The FRP-steel girder composite bridge system is increasingly used in new constructions of bridges as well as rehabilitation of old bridges. However, the understanding of composite action between FRP decks and steel girders is limited and needs to be systematically investigated. In this paper, depending on the experimental investigations of FRP to steel girder system, the Finite Element (FE) models on experiments were developed and analyzed. Comparison between experiments and FE results indicated that the FE models were much stiffer for in-plane shear stiffness of the FRP deck panel. To modify the FE models, rotational spring elements were added between webs and flanges of FRP decks, to simulate the semirigid connections. Numerical analyses were also conducted on four-point bending experiments of FRP-steel composite girders. Good agreement between experimental results and FE analysis was achieved by comparing the load-deflection curves at midspan and contribution of composite action from FRP decks. With the validated FE models, the parametric studies were conducted on adhesively bonded connection between FRP decks and steel girders, which indicated that the loading transfer capacity of adhesive connection was not simply dependent on the shear modulus or thickness of adhesive layer but dominated by the in-plane shear stiffness K.

The growing need of durability enhancement for road bridge decks has recently caused the big impulse for research on new, durable, lightweight and easy to handle bridge decks, made of advanced materials, f.e. FRP (fibre reinforced polymers). The initial results of research on the first Polish FRP bridge deck have been presented in the paper. In the frame of UE 7FP the three structural solutions of sandwich FRP bridge deck have been elaborated, produced and tested under static load. On the basis of test results the stiffness and carrying capacity of panels have been estimated and the best solution for further research has been chosen.