Sustainable and Durable Infrastructure with Advanced Construction Materials

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2014-08-10

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Abstract

Two experimental prestressed concrete bridge girder projects focus on the use of advanced materials including Aramid fiber reinforced polymers (AFRP) bars and self-consolidating concrete (SCC). One specimen is a precast, prestressed concrete bridge girder (TxDOT Type A) reinforced with AFRP that was tested to determine how the girder acts compositely with the bridge deck. The second specimen is a full-scale bridge girder (modified Tx70) constructed using spliced girder technology with SCC precast, prestressed concrete girder segments. The major objectives of this research are: (1) to characterize the concrete and reinforcement materials for the AFRP girder, (2) to characterize the concrete materials for the spliced girder, and (3) to conduct a comparative analysis of the AFRP girder and the spliced girder concrete materials.

AASHTO LRFD (2006), ACI 363 (1992) (revised by Al-Omaishi et al. 2009), ACI 318 (2008), CEB-FIP (2010), and Trejo et al (2008) prediction models were used to conduct a comparative analysis of the behavior of the material properties, such as modulus of elasticity, splitting tensile strength, and modulus of rupture, for both projects. It is important to note that the trends and models discussed in this thesis are limited to the behavior of the concrete tested for this research and the measured experimental data obtained.

Further research into the behavior of SCC, curing conditions, and alternative test methods for mechanical properties of SCC would be beneficial for the future concrete industry. Information concerning the longevity of AFRP use in bridge girder as well as retrofitting existing girders using these construction materials is currently limited. Longer term tests of AFRP and SCC in bridge girders needs to be conducted to discern the behavior of the material after a number of years in service.

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