Research Activities: 2006
Design of FRP Systems for Strengthening Concrete Girders in Shear: Phase I | |||||||||
Status | Complete* *Final report to be posted at the completion of R197 | ||||||||
Sequential Number | R186 | ||||||||
Matching Research Agency | Transportation Research Board | ||||||||
Principal Investigator |
| ||||||||
Student Involvement | 1 MS and 1 Post-Doc | ||||||||
Project Objectives | The objective of this project is to develop design methods, specifications, and examples for design of FRP systems for strengthening concrete girders in shear. | ||||||||
Project Abstract | FRP systems have been used on a project-specific basis for the last two decades. They are now becoming a widely accepted method of strengthening concrete structures. The acceptance and utilization of these new strengthening techniques depend on the availability of clear design guidelines, installation procedures and construction specifications. Standard specifications exist for all commonly used traditional materials in civil engineering structures. At this time, design specifications for FRP use are still under development. The results of several experimental investigations have shown that FRP systems can be effective for increasing ductility and strength to structural members such as columns and girders. As most of the research focused on strengthening of axial members of flexural members, there are less experimental and analytical data on the use of FRP systems for shear strengthening of girders. Shear strengthening with FRP is still under investigation and the results obtained thus far are scarce and sometimes controversial. Even in traditional reinforced concrete members without FRP, the shear design is a complex challenge and uses more empirical methods as compared to axial and flexural design methods. Adding FRP to the equation, with its specific design issues, would bring another level of complication in the design. These FRP-related shear design issues and lack of comprehensive analytical and experimental models are the main motivation for this research project. Thus, a thorough understanding of the shear design problem along with the development of an AASHTO design method for FRP shear strengthening of concrete girders are needed. As such, the objective of this project is to develop design methods, specifications, and examples for design of FRP systems for strengthening concrete girders in shear. The proposed specifications will be in LRFD format and will be suitable for recommendation to the AASHTO Highway Subcommittee on Bridges and Structures for adoption. | ||||||||
Anticipated Benefits | Provide bridge designers with design methodologies and equations, and examples to help for the use of FRP for shear strengthening of RC and PC girders. | ||||||||
Modal Orientation | Bridge Assessment: Bridges testing and bridge strengthening for shear using FRP | ||||||||
Milestones |
| ||||||||
Relationship to other Research/Projects | N/A | ||||||||
Technology Transfer Activities | The AASHTO membership states are the primary audience for this project. The target audience and market includes bridge owners and bridge designers, federal and state DOT representatives, bridge construction inspectors, general contractors, and the broader research community and to some extent the instructors and students in educational institutions. The PI's will take a proactive role and make necessary presentations to assist in explaining and promoting the proposed design guidelines. In addition, the PI's will promote these research products at conferences, technical meetings, seminars, workshops and other professional gatherings and to AASHTO technical committees. The PI's will organize a half-day workshop at TRB meeting to summarize the research findings and outline the proposed design and analysis procedures as well as design examples related to this research project. | ||||||||
Transportation Research Board Keywords | Bridge, Bridge Girders, FRP Strengthening | ||||||||