Field Monitoring and Repair of a Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bridge Deck
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 24, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper reports on the monitoring and repair of a pilot field deployment of a glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) deck on a small steel girder bridge in the Washington State. Deck deflections were monitored periodically over a 10-month period and were found to increase significantly over that time. The GFRP deck is an adhesively bonded assembly of GFRP tubes and top and bottom plates. After 9 months of service, wearing surface cracking was observed, and upon closer inspection, the top GFRP plate was found to be delaminated from the tubes over a fairly large area. Deck deflections in the area of delamination were found to be considerably larger than those observed during previous monitoring in undamaged locations. A retrofit solution was employed where the top plate was reconnected to the tubes using screws coated with a two-part epoxy that mixed when they were driven. At the time of writing the retrofit was successful in reattaching the delaminated top plate.
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Acknowledgments
The writers gratefully acknowledge the support of Jyr-Jong Lee, Principal, David Evans and Associates, Inc. in Olympia, Wash., and James Wheelborg, Project Manager, Snohomish County Public Works. This research was supported by David Evans and Associates, Inc., however, any opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations presented in this paper are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsors.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 24 • Issue 3 • June 2010
Pages: 215 - 222
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 2, 2009
Accepted: Oct 18, 2009
Published online: Nov 21, 2009
Published in print: Jun 2010
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