ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The development of bridges with improved durability and higher speed of construction led, in recent years, to the study of new structural solutions, where GFRP pultruded profiles are increasingly taking place, due to their strength, lower self weight and better durability. However, GFRP profiles are considerably flexible and susceptible to instability phenomena. To overcome these drawbacks, their use in GFRP-concrete composite sections of bridge decks may have a great potential, substituting the classical steel-concrete composite decks with lower maintenance and increased speed of construction. This paper presents the experimental study of GFRP-concrete composite beams under static behaviour, where two different shear connection systems were investigated: (i) stainless steel bolts; and (ii) a continuous epoxy adhesive layer. Shear connection tests were conducted on GFRP I-profiles connected to concrete, using both systems. The results of those tests were used to design and test simply supported beams with GFRP-concrete composite cross-section, showing the viability of this solution for bridge decks.
