International Concrete Abstracts Portal

Title: Effect of Severe Environmental and Loading Conditions on GFRP-RC Bridge Deck Slabs

Author(s): Amr El-Ragaby and Ehab F. El-Salakawy

Publication: Special Publication

Volume: 275

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1-20

Keywords: Bridge deck slab, cold temperature, fatigue, freeze-thaw, GFRP

Date: 3/1/2011

Abstract:
The bridge deck slab is a prime example where FRP bars are used as main concrete reinforcement. In Canada, bridge deck slabs are usually subjected to a variation of cold and hot weathering while directly sustain the traffic loads. Both fatigue and thermal loading are expected to adversely affect the overall performance of such structural elements. In this research, a total of 4 large-scale bridge deck slabs totally reinforced with glass FRP bars were constructed and tested under simulated long-term loading and environmental conditions. The slabs were subjected to 3,000,000 cycles of sinusoidal waveform fatigue loading combined with either 100 freeze-thaw cycles or continuous cold temperature for one month. The test parameters included the environmental conditioning and the reinforcement ratio. It was concluded that the overall behavior of GFRP-reinforced bridge deck slabs after being subjected to simulated long-term fatigue load cycles and freeze-thaw or cold temperature is satisfactory according to the current design codes.