ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials are being used with increasing frequency as structural reinforcement for concrete. As an alternative to conventional steel reinforcement, they offer many advantages, including high tensile strength, reduced unit weight and they are non-corrosive in saline environments. In bridge decks these characteristics are attractive as life cycle performance is frequently compromised due to corrosion of the steel reinforcement. This paper describes the measured structural behavior of an in-service cast-in-place bridge deck reinforced with a rigid CFRP grid. The bridge is located in Rollinsford, NH and has a 33.5 m (110 ft.) simple span. The superstructure consists of high performance concrete (HPC) prestressed girders acting compositely with a HPC deck. Since opening to traffic in December 2000 the deck and girders have been under constant real-time performance monitoring using fiber optic strain sensors. Results from controlled diagnostic load testing and long term behavior are presented.
