Long-Term Loading Behavior of a Full-Scale Glubam Bridge Model
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 19, Issue 9
Abstract
A 9.4-m-long, full-scale glued laminated bamboo (glubam) bridge model was constructed to duplicate a prototype truckload bridge. The soffit of the 600-mm-deep and 120-mm-wide glubam girders was further enhanced with carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets. The midspan deflections of the bamboo girders were obtained over the course of 3.7 years from creep tests under the gravity load of the bridge. The results indicate that the average creep deflection of the girders after 3.7 years was within the acceptable range. It was found that the creep deflection was affected by seasonal humidity and temperature. After 3.7 years of creep loading, the bridge model was loaded with sandbags and cast iron weight blocks until failure. The final failure mode was identified as the flexural failure of a section where a finger joint of one layer of the glubam girder was located.
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Acknowledgments
The research described in this paper was conducted at the Institute of Bamboo, Timber and Composite Structures (IBTCS), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Building Safety and Energy Efficiency, Hunan University. Support for various phases of the project was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Key Project, No. 50938002), the One-Thousand Talent National Expert Scholarships, and the Advanced Bamboo and Timber Technologies, Ltd. The authors warmly thank all the sponsors and collaborators.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 19 • Issue 9 • September 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 8, 2013
Accepted: Jan 6, 2014
Published online: Feb 4, 2014
Discussion open until: Jul 4, 2014
Published in print: Sep 1, 2014
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