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Synthesis of Concrete Bridge Piles Prestressed with CFRP Systems

What Was the Need?

The transportation infrastructure is aging and deteriorating mostly due to corrosion problems related to the prestressing steel strands. A corrosion-free material for reinforcement will create alternatives for bridge engineers to design long-lasting and safer bridge members. If not considered, corrosion will create additional maintenance and replacement costs for TxDOT. Furthermore, the loss of cross-section of the prestressing steel will result in lower load carrying capacity of the member, which may eventually lead to structural failure. This will cause a public safety issue. Prestressed concrete piles are exposed to aggressive environmental effects that cause corrosion of the internal prestressing steel. The loss of functionality due to corrosion of the prestressed reinforcement of the piles causes service interruptions or replacements and in most cases requires expensive interventions.

Current investigations indicate that some DOTs are including pilot studies using a promising alternative of corrosion-free CFRP [carbon fiber reinforced polymer] prestressing strands in prestressed concrete piles. Most of these studies are not assessed through laboratory tests. Furthermore, there is a lack of design specifications and construction procedures to enable transportation engineers to adopt this innovative technology.

What's the Solution?

The purpose of this synthesis study was to investigate behavior of the CFRP prestressed concrete piles as a possible component of bridges with much longer target design lives (exceeding 100 years). The study involved (1.) conducting a comprehensive literature review of all existing, published and unpublished, investigations related to CFRP prestressed piles. (2.) Identifying the research and practice gaps. (3.) Deriving a research plan including experimental and analytical studies to complement existing knowledge. (4.) Identifying the set of design guidelines and construction specifications that needs to be developed for the use of these materials and develop a plan for the required research and implementation plans to be adopted by TxDOT.

Project Number

0-6917

Status

Completed

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Project Details

Start Date

1/1/2016

End Date

12/31/2016

Performing Institution(s)

University of Houston (UH); The University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler)

Research Team

RS: Abdeldjelil Belarbi

Sponsor

Project Manager

Chris Glancy

Amount Funded

FY16: $48,888
FY17: $11,112

Publications from this Project

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Functional Area

Structures and Hydraulics

Index Terms

Alternatives analysis
Carbon fibers
Concrete bridges
Corrosion resistance
Durability
Feasibility analysis
Fiber reinforced polymers
Life cycle analysis
Literature reviews
Piles (Supports)
Prestressed concrete

Lead University

Researcher

Belarbi, Abdeldjelil

Geographic name

Houston, Tex.
Texas

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Record Added:

5/2/2016

Record Updated:

6/23/2023 5:33 AM EDT

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