Title: Strengthening Of The West Gate Bridge With Carbon Fibre Composites – A Proof Engineer’s Perspective

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Publication: CIA

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Date: 2/13/2011

Abstract:
The world’s biggest project of structural strengthening by means of bonded, high tensile carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) has recently been accomplished at the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne. The West Gate Bridge consists of two multi span precast concrete segmental box girder approach viaducts and a central cable stayed steel box girder Bridge. As a relief measure for traffic congestion an extra lane was provided on the western approach viaduct by utilising the former hard shoulder. This together with the increased (current) traffic loadings has resulted in higher traffic loads being applied to the bridge. The most critical areas of overstress that were identified were the torsional and shear capacity of the spine girder and the capacities of the deck slab and the precast cantilever frames. The main spine beam girder was strengthened by draped tendons to increase the global sag and hog capacity. For the other strengthening requirements, VicRoads decided on a solution proposed by the Design and Construct Contractor, of using high strength CFRP materials due to their advantages as externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) or near surface mounted reinforcement (NSMR). This paper concentrates on this strengthening using CFRP materials.