Fabrication and Behavior of Three-Dimensionally Woven Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymeric Bridge Deck.

Abstract

Deterioration of many bridge decks due to corrosion of steel triggered civil engineering researchers to consider other alternatives to the current conventional reinforced concrete and steel bridge decks. During the past two decades, researchers have intensively investigated the use of fiber reinforced polymeric (FRP) bridge decks as an alternative to the current conventional concrete and steel bridge decks. This research explored the feasibility of three-dimensional woven glass fiber reinforced bridge decks (3-D GFRP), fabricated using textile machine and resin infusion process.

The research investigated the mechanical properties of 3-D GFRP including: Tensile properties, compression properties, and flexural properties. Three bridge decks were fabricated and tested up to failure to access the applicability of this new concept for bridge deck. The use of epoxy resin versus vinyl ester resin in the fabrication process was examined. For design purposes, the overall elastic modulus of the 3-D GFRP has been investigated using various methods.

Test results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed concept in producing bridge decks for highway bridges. The use of 3-D weaving technique eliminates the typical delamination observed for the current pultruded GFRP bridge decks. The behavior of the 3-D GFRP bridge decks indicated promising potential, and lead to filing a US patent for this innovative concept in coordination with the local textile company collaborated in providing the bridge deck.