Advanced Structures & Composites Center

Published: 2012

Publication Name: Proceedings of the 91st Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., Jan 22-26, 2012

Publication URL: https://trid.trb.org/view/1129202

Abstract:

Concrete-filled fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) tubes (CFFTs) are seeing increasing use in various infrastructure applications. This paper investigates the use of CFFTs for rapidly erected, buried arch bridge structures. The thin-walled hybrid composite tubes developed at the University of Maine are fabricated from a combination of E-glass and carbon fiber braid infused with vinyl ester resin. The composite tubes function as confinement, tension and shear reinforcing, eliminating the need for conventional steel rebar. Additionally, the tubes serve as stay-in-place formwork, reducing construction time and complexity relative to conventional cast-in-place concrete structures. The objectives of this study are to experimentally assess the structural response of the concrete-filled FRP arches, compare test results with analytical models, and illustrate the field application of this technology. To achieve these objectives, the load-deformation and moment-curvature response of CFFTs were investigated through quasi-static laboratory testing of four arches. The specimens were instrumented with displacement transducers and strain gages at several locations. Two additional arches were subjected to 2,000,000 fatigue cycles and subsequently loaded to failure to assess the effect of fatigue on capacity. A nonlinear beam finite-element model that accounts for concrete confinement and cracking is presented. Model-predicted load-deformation and moment-curvature behavior as well as specimen capacity are shown to compare well with measured data from the arch testing. The design and construction of a buried arch bridge constructed with this technology is briefly discussed. Current design trends and future research needs are also addressed.