Static and Dynamic Behavior of High- and Ultrahigh-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Precast Bridge Parapets
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 16, Issue 3
Abstract
New designs of precast bridge parapets made with fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) were developed using nonlinear finite-element calculations. Specific properties of high- and ultrahigh-performance FRC were exploited in these designs. The conventional reinforcement required in the FRC precast parapets varied from 0 to 50% when compared with a reference built-on-site parapet. An extensive experimental program was carried out to verify the performance of the FRC precast parapets. The parapet mechanical behavior was established under quasi-static tests and under dynamic loading replicating a vehicle impact. The results of the quasi-static tests indicate that precast FRC parapets possess the required strength and have ductility comparable to reference parapets. Quasi-static tests carried out after the dynamic tests indicate that the residual strength of the parapets corresponds to 75 to 100% of their original capacity. The finite-element model adopted in the project satisfactorily reproduced the strength, stiffness, and failure mode of the parapets. Finally, the system efficiency of precast FRC parapets was established for their application in a typical urban bridge project, considering the mechanical performance, the fabrication costs, and the required installation time.
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Acknowledgments
The research project was financially supported by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)NSERC, Béton Brunet, and the City of Montréal. Moreover, some materials were graciously provided by Bekaert, Euclid, Ciment St-Laurent, and Tech-Mix. The writers would like to acknowledge the participation of the industrial partners and the technical staff of École Polytechnique de Montréal. Finally, the writers are thankful for the advice provided by Mr. Pierre Rossi from the Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 16 • Issue 3 • May 2011
Pages: 413 - 421
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 27, 2009
Accepted: Aug 5, 2010
Published online: Apr 15, 2011
Published in print: May 1, 2011
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