Development, Shake Table Testing, and Design of FRP Seismic Restrainers
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 11, Issue 4
Abstract
The development and performance of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) fabrics as an alternative to steel for restrainers to reduce bridge relative movements at hinges during earthquakes was explored. Glass, carbon, and hybrid (glass/carbon) restrainers were developed and tested on a representative in-span hinge using a shake table at the large-scale structures laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno. The components of the study presented in this article are: (1) the FRP restrainer development and testing; (2) comparisons among FRP, steel, and shape memory alloy restrainers; and (3) development and evaluation of a simple restrainer design method and a numerical example. Important findings of the study were that compared to steel restrainers, the FRP restrainers were effective in substantially reducing the relative hinge displacements and pounding at hinges. The method to develop the flexible portion of the FRP restrainers and the bond to superstructure was successful in accomplishing the target performance. The proposed restrainer design method provides a rational yet simple tool to design FRP or other types of restrainers.
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Acknowledgments
This study was funded by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program-Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (NCHRP-IDEA) with supplemental funding provided by the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT). The authors are indebted to Dr. S. Luo of the Mechanical Engineering Department at University of Nevada, Reno, Nev. for providing information and guidance about the flexible coating. The Fyfe Co. and Mr. Scott Arnold are thanked for donating the FRP fabrics and the epoxy resins. Special gratitude is due Dr. Patrick LaPlace, Mr. Paul Lucas, and Mr. Robby Nelson for their help in construction and testing phases of this project. The assistance of David Hillis in computer analyses is also appreciated.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 11 • Issue 4 • July 2006
Pages: 499 - 506
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: May 2, 2005
Accepted: Dec 8, 2005
Published online: Jul 1, 2006
Published in print: Jul 2006
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