Finite-Element Modeling and Development of Equivalent Properties for FRP Bridge Panels
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 14, Issue 2
Abstract
Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials are increasingly making their way into civil engineering applications. To reduce the self-weight and also achieve the necessary stiffness, sandwich panels are commonly used for FRP bridge decks. However, due to the geometric complexity of the FRP sandwich deck, convenient analysis and design methods for FRP bridge deck have not been developed. The present study aims at developing equivalent properties for a complicated sandwich panel configuration using finite-element modeling techniques. With equivalent properties, the hollowed sandwich panel can be transformed into an equivalent solid orthotropic plate, based on which deflection limits can be evaluated and designed. A procedure for the in-plane axial properties of the sandwich core has first been developed, followed by developing the out-of-plane panel properties for bending behavior of the panel. An application is made in the investigation of the stiffness contribution of wearing surface to the total stiffness of bridges with FRP panels. The wearing surface contribution is not usually accounted for in a typical design of bridges with traditional deck systems.
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Acknowledgments
The writers appreciate the financial support, partially from the Innovative Bridge Research and Construction Program, Federal Highway Administration through Kansas Department of Transportation, and partially from Louisiana State University. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the sponsors.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 14 • Issue 2 • March 2009
Pages: 112 - 121
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 9, 2007
Accepted: Jul 1, 2008
Published online: Mar 1, 2009
Published in print: Mar 2009
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