Composite Action and Adhesive Bond between Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bridge Decks and Main Girders
Publication: Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 9, Issue 4
Abstract
This paper describes the behavior of hybrid girders consisting of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bridge decks adhesively connected to steel main girders. Two large-scale girders were experimentally investigated at the serviceability and ultimate limit state as well as at failure. One of the girders was additionally fatigue loaded to 10 million cycles. Compared to the behavior of a reference steel girder, deflections of the two girders at the SLS were decreased by 30% and failure loads increased by 56% due to full composite action in the adhesive layer. A ductile failure mode occurred: Deck compression failure during yielding of the steel girder. The adhesive connections were able to prevent buckling of the yielding top steel flanges. Thus, compared to the reference steel girder, the maximum deflections at failure could be increased up to 130%. No deterioration due to fatigue loading was observed. Based on the experimental results, a conceptual design method for bonded FRP/steel girders was developed. The proposed method is based on the well-established design method for hybrid girders with concrete decks and shear stud connections. The necessary modifications are proposed.
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Acknowledgment
The writers wish to acknowledge the support of the Swiss Federal Roads Authority (FEDRO); Martin Marietta Composites, Raleigh USA (supplier of the DuraSpan 766 bridge deck elements) and Sika AG, Zurich, Switzerland (supplier of the SikaDur 330 epoxy adhesive).
References
European Committee for Standardization. (2002). “Actions on structures. Part 2: Traffic loads on bridges.” Eurocode 1, Brussels, prEN 1991-2.
European Committee for Standardization. (2002). “Design of steel structures. Part 1-1: General rules.” Eurocode 3, Brussels, prEN1993-1-1.
European Committee for Standardization. (2002). “Design of composite steel and concrete structures. Part 2: Rules for bridges.” Eurocode 4, Brussels, prEN1994-2.
Keller T., de Castro J., and Schollmayer M. (2004). “Adhesively bonded and translucent fiber reinforced polymer sandwich girders.” J. Compos. Constr., 8(5), 461–470.
Keller, T. and Gürtler, H. (2005). “In-plane compression and shear performance of FRP bridge decks acting as top chord of bridge girders.” J. Compos. Struct., in press.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 9 • Issue 4 • August 2005
Pages: 360 - 368
Copyright
© ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 31, 2003
Accepted: May 25, 2004
Published online: Aug 1, 2005
Published in print: Aug 2005
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