Title: CFRC Permanent Formwork for the Steel Free Bridge Deck

Author(s): N. Banthia, C. Yan, and Aftab A. Mufti and Baidar Bakht

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 190

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 21-39

Keywords: carbon fiber reinforced cements, permanent formwork, steel-free bridge deck.

DOI: 10.14359/5719

Date: 4/1/2000

Abstract:
The steel free bridge deck slab technology has seen its real-life applications in a span of less than ten years from its initial conception. Indications are that more and more bridges will be built using this concept around the world, especially in places where corrosion of reinforcement is a serious concern. In this paper, results of an experimental project carried out at the University of British Columbia, where a full scale bridge deck was tested with carbon fiber reinforced cement (CFRC) permanent formwork, are described. The bridge deck had 0.4% of fibrillated polypropylene fiber reinforcement but no traditional steel reinforcement. The carbon fiber used in the formwork was a pitch-based fiber with a moderately high modulus of elasticity and tensile strength. The deck slab was tested at various locations under a simulated concentrated wheel load and the load vs. deflection characteristics were recorded. While the bridge deck failed, as expected, in a punching shear mode at a load several times higher than the design load, the bond between the CFRC formwork and the concrete deck was identified as a weak link in the system