Prepared in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration. AbstractThe service life of highway bridges is limited by the deterioration of their substructure components. In the U.S., it is estimated that more than 240,000 (about 40%) of the highway bridges are functionally or structurally deficient. Repairing these deteriorated bridges using traditional methods is usually time-consuming and expensive. Furthermore, these methods are such that they can cause a number of problems, such as being a threat to public safety and severe traffic disruption. Thus, it is important that new safer and more efficient methods be developed. Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) have a great potential to provide such a solution. Due to their superior material properties, such as corrosion-resistance and costeffectiveness, FRP composite materials have been effectively used in a wide variety of applications in a number of industries. In recent years, prototype projects in civil infrastructure have demonstrated the effectiveness and the benefits of the use FRP in this industry. However, the long-term performance of FRP-wrapped columns, under severe environmental conditions has not yet been fully assessed, and thus requires further investigation. This research assesses their performance in terms of corrosion resistance and freeze-thaw effect. This has been accomplished through field monitoring, field inspection, and laboratory tests. . . Key WordsFiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP), Civil infrastructure rehabilitation, Composites, Reinforced concrete columns, Corrosion resistance, Freeze-thaw effect IntroductionIn the summer of 1997, the bridge piers at the junction of Indiana state highway I-69 and U.S.14 were repaired by the GFRP (Glass FiberReinforced Plastics) wrapping system, which is one of the applications of advanced composites. There are several reasons why this bridge was in need of rehabilitation. First, the use of deicing salt caused the bridge piers to deteriorate due to corrosion. Secondly, aging, heavy traffic loads, and severe environmental conditions, such as extremely cold temperatures and large temperature changes magnified this deterioration process.These types of composite materials have been used extensively in the West Coast, especially in California, primarily for seismic rehabilitation, and in some eastern states for corrosion protection or strengthening. They have also been used in many other industries, such as aerospace, automotive, chemical, shipbuilding, etc., for decades.Due to their superior material properties, such as corrosion-resistance and cost-effectiveness, composites have been effectively used in a wide variety of applications in civil engineering construction in recent years. However, the longterm performance of FRP-wrapped columns, under severe environmental conditions, has not yet been fully assessed, and thus requires further investigation. FindingsThe environmental effects on the long-term performance of the FRP composites wrapped columns in Indiana ha...
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