Title: Effect of CFRP Strengthening on the Behavior of Older and Newer Bent Caps in a Widened Concrete Bridge

Author(s): Yazan Almomani, Nur Yazdani, and Eyosias Beneberu

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 346

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 81-92

Keywords: bridge bent caps; widened bridges, CFRP strengthening; numerical modeling; finite element analysis; load testing

DOI: 10.14359/51730495

Date: 1/1/2021

Abstract:
A reinforced concrete bridge built in 1940 and located in Dallas, Texas, exhibited moderate to severe corrosion-related deterioration in the concrete bent caps. The damaged bent caps were repaired with epoxy mortar and externally strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. Three-dimensional numerical models of the bent caps were created to better understand the cap behavior in bending and during various stages of the repair. The models were calibrated using data obtained from full-scale live load bridge testing. . The models were loaded until failure (rapid crack opening or CFRP debonding) to show the crack patterns, strain distributions and the bent cap capacities. The bent cap moment capacity increased by about 30% after repair/strengthening, because the original bent caps had extensive damage at the flexure-critical areas. The dowel-connected newer bent caps from the 1970 widened bridge contributed to the load sharing with the older bent caps.