Experimental Performance of AFRP Concrete Bridge Deck Slab with Full-Depth Precast Prestressed Panels

Abstract

While application of full-depth precast bridge deck panels may be appealing because of an accelerated construction schedule and improved safety conditions, corrosion of steel reinforcement is a major factor affecting the structural durability of precast panels and overall serviceability of a bridge deck. Herein, the concept of using aramid fiber reinforced polymer (AFRP) bars as a substitute for conventional steel reinforcement to overcome corrosion issues is verified. For this purpose, a full-scale bridge deck slab consisting of full-depth precast panels reinforced and prestressed with AFRP bars is constructed and experimentally evaluated in terms of load capacity, deformation, crack pattern, and failure mode. The precast panels are reinforced and prestressed in parallel and perpendicular to the traffic directions, respectively, and supported by reinforced concrete beams. Realistic dimensions, boundary conditions, and structural details are physically modeled to represent an actual bridge deck condition, and different concentrated load configurations including wheel and tandem axle loads are applied on both the slab interior span and overhang. The experimental results show the average failure load of the interior spans and overhangs, respectively equal to 3.9 and 1.4 times the maximum factored wheel load, where the deflection serviceability criteria are met and satisfactory deformability performance is achieved.