Effect of Prestressing on the Performance of GFRP-Reinforced Concrete Slab Bridge Strips

Abstract

Deterioration of reinforced concrete structures caused by corrosion of steel reinforcement is currently a major concern affecting the safety and functionality of our infrastructure. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials have shown tremendous potential as an alternative reinforcement for reinforced and prestressed concrete structures. FRPs have been used in a wide variety of structural applications, from reinforced concrete deck slabs to posttensioned parking garages. However, one promising application for FRP reinforcing bars which has yet to be investigated thoroughly is their use in reinforced concrete slab bridges. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on 10 full-scale glass FRP (GFRP)-reinforced slab bridge strips posttensioned with 0, 2, or 4 carbon FRP (CFRP) tendons with and without shear reinforcement. The tendons were either fully bonded or fully nonbonded to evaluate the effect of bond on the serviceability and ultimate performance of the slabs, particularly in terms of their deformability. Based on the test results, the addition of prestressed CFRP tendons resulted in significantly improved serviceability and ultimate load-carrying capacity with good deformability.