Experimental Study of the Fatigue Resistance and Ultimate Capacity of a Hybrid FRP-Concrete Bridge Deck

The design and construction of bridge systems with long-term durability and low maintenance requirements is a significant challenge for bridge engineers. A possible solution to this challenge might exist through the use of new materials, i.e. fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, combined with traditional materials that are arranged as an innovative hybrid structural system. An experimental investigation was conducted to gain an improved understanding of the long-term structural behavior and viability of a hybrid FRP-concrete (HFRPC) bridge deck system. This paper presents the results of fatigue and ultimate strength testing performed on a 3/4 scale bridge model consisting of a hybrid FRP-concrete bridge deck connected to supporting steel girders through shear stud clusters. The results of the fatigue and destructive testing suggest the hybrid FRP-concrete bridge deck might be a viable alternative to traditional cast-in-place reinforced concrete deck from a structural performance perspective. The specimen showed no degradation in stiffness or composite action between the deck and steel girders after 2 million cycles of dynamic loading with a peak load of 1.26 times the scaled tandem load and an ultimate capacity of 6 times the scaled tandem load.