Bridge Case Study: What a Contractor Needs to Know on an FRP Reinforcement Project
Publication: Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 24, Issue 2
Abstract
Civil works construction is now facing a transformational change with the growing implementation of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials as rebars and tendons for concrete structures. To avoid surprises and decrease risk, a contractor must be cognizant of FRP’s differences with traditional steel reinforcement in terms of procurement, quality control, and installation. A bridge replacement project under construction in Florida is presented in this paper as a case study to address the technology’s constructability and adaptability in a number of structural elements for both substructure and superstructure. The paper also provides some productivity considerations for the case of FRP reinforcing cage assembly in terms of work hours, including a comparison with the traditional steel solution. The case study points out critical issues such as procurement, acceptance, and workforce experience that can provide guidance for both implementation and standardization of the technology.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from “Sustainable concrete using seawater, salt-contaminated aggregates, and non-corrosive reinforcement” Infravation, 31109806.005-SEACON, that made possible the presence of the first author at the job site.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 24 • Issue 2 • April 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 12, 2019
Accepted: Aug 14, 2019
Published online: Jan 21, 2020
Published in print: Apr 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Jun 21, 2020
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