2013 Session: 426

• Monitoring of First “Bridge-in-a-Backpack” Bridge in Massachusetts
  Abstract: An innovative “Bridge-in-a-Backpack” bridge was constructed in Fitchburg, MA. The system, developed at the University of Maine, uses newly implemented technology of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tubes filled with concrete to reduce construction time and cost, reduce maintenance costs, and increase lifespan of the structure. The bridge is unique in that it has a 30 degree skew and shallower arch geometry than other bridges of this type that have been constructed. MassDOT, collaborating with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, instrumented the bridge with a total of 99 gages (strain gages, pressure cells, tiltmeters, displacement transducers, and convergence gages). This paper discusses the bridge response under construction loads, static live load testing, and the first eleven months of long-term monitoring, to report on the observed performance of this innovative bridge.
  Authors: Quinn, Brooke Hollie; Civjan, Scott Adam; Lahovich, Andrew; Brena, Sergio
  Authors: Quinn, Brooke Hollie; Civjan, Scott Adam; Lahovich, Andrew; Brena, Sergio
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design
  Session: 426
  Paper Number: 13-3221
• Experiments on a Hybrid-Composite Beam for Bridge Applications
  Abstract: This paper details an effort to study the structural behavior of Hybrid-Composite Beams (HCB) consisting of a Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) shell with a tied concrete arch. This beam offers advantages in life cycle costs through reduced transportation weight and increased corrosion resistance. By better understanding the system behavior the proportion of load in each component can be determined, and each component can be designed for the appropriate forces. A long term outcome of this research will be a general structural analysis framework that can be used by DOTs to design HCBs as rapidly constructible bridge components. The specific focus in this study is to identify the load paths and load sharing between the arch and FRP shell in an HCB without a concrete deck. Testing was performed by applying point loads at midspan and quarter points of three simple span beams, resulting in strain data for the arch and FRP shell. The test results show that strain behavior is linear elastic at service loads and the FRP shell has a relatively linear strain profile. Curvature from strain data is used to find internal bending forces, and the proportion of load within the arch is found. Additionally, a stress integration method is used to confirm the internal force contributions. Ultimately, the arch carries about 70% of the total load, but the amount of arch bending and axial force depends on the position of loading. Work is underway to extend this research to the study of load paths and distributions in an HCB with a bridge deck integrally connected to the tied arch.
  Authors: Van Nosdall, Stephen Paul
  Authors: Van Nosdall, Stephen Paul
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design
  Session: 426
  Paper Number: 13-3318
• Behavior of Laterally Damaged Bridge Girders Repaired with CFRP Laminates Under Fatigue and Static Loading
  Abstract: This study investigates the optimum configurations of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) laminates to repair laterally damaged prestressed concrete (PSC) bridge girders due to impact by over-height vehicles collision. Experimental and analytical investigations were conducted to determine the most efficient CFRP repair configuration to restore girders’ flexural capacity. Impact damage was simulated in the lab by (1) concrete damage and (2) reducing the prestressing force by cutting some of the prestressing strands. The repair systems for eight 40-ft-long AASHTO Type II PSC girders and thirteen half-scale 20-ft-long PS girders were designed to restore the original ultimate flexural capacity.In addition to the static load tests, some of the girders were tested under fatigue loading for 2 million cycles to examine the behavior under simulated traffic conditions. The study investigated and recommended the proper CFRP repair design in terms of the CFRP longitudinal layers and U-wrapping spacing to obtain flexural capacity improvement and desired failure modes for the repaired girders. The analysis of the test results investigated the most efficient CFRP configurations having evenly spaced transverse U-wrappings that provided an efficient configuration to mitigate debonding of soffit CFRP longitudinal laminates. Test results showed that with proper detailing, CFRP systems can be designed to restore the lost flexural capacity and maintain the desired failure mode.
  Authors: Elsafty, Adel; Fallaha, Sam
  Authors: Elsafty, Adel; Fallaha, Sam
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design
  Session: 426
  Paper Number: 13-5000
• Experiments on a Hybrid-Composite Beam for Bridge Applications
  Authors: Van Nosdall, Stephen
  Authors: Van Nosdall, Stephen
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design
  Session: 426
  Paper Number: 13-3318
• Monitoring of First "Bridge-in-a-Backpack" Bridge in Massachusetts
  Authors: Civjan, Scott
  Authors: Civjan, Scott
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design
  Session: 426
  Paper Number: 13-3221
• Behavior of Laterally Damaged Bridge Girders Repaired with CFRP Laminates Under Fatigue and Static Loading
  Authors: Elsafty, Adel
  Authors: Elsafty, Adel
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design
  Session: 426
  Paper Number: 13-5000
• Hybrid Composite Bridge Beams and Deck
  Authors: Hillman, John
  Authors: Hillman, John
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design
  Session: 426
  Paper Number: P13-6551
• Basalt Fiber for Strengthening Timber: Behavior Under Tensile Loads
  Authors: Fernando, Dilum
  Authors: Fernando, Dilum
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design
  Session: 426
  Paper Number: P13-6552
• Deploying Research: Doing Things Smarter, Better, Faster
  Authors: Triandafilou, Louis
  Authors: Triandafilou, Louis
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design
  Session: 426
  Paper Number: P13-6550