MPC
Project Details

Title:	Structural Fiber Reinforcement to Reduce Deck Reinforcement and Improve Long-Term Performance
Principal Investigators:	Marc Maguire
University:	Utah State University
Status:	Completed
Year:	2018
Grant #:	69A3551747108 (FAST Act)
Project #:	MPC-581
RH Display ID:	154002
Keywords:	bridge decks, cracking, fiber reinforced concrete, performance, reinforced concrete bridges, structural materials

Abstract

Repair of reinforced concrete bridge decks represents a large portion of bridge manager's budgets. A survey of 52 transportation agencies identified more than 100,000 bridges across the United States that have exhibited early age bridge deck cracking. Reducing the amount of cracking on bridge decks would likely lead to better infrastructure resilience and lower long term costs. While various reinforcing materials are available to reduce or eliminate corrosion, they are often considered near cost prohibitive (e.g., stainless steel) or difficult to procure (carbon fiber rebar) or come with significant design challenges (e.g., glass fiber rebar). Epoxy coated mild reinforcement is the steel corrosion protection of choice among many Departments of Transportation, however its performance is highly dependent on the initial condition of the coating which is historically easy to damage during the manufacture, transport and construction. Other coating options like galvanized reinforcement or stainless clad reinforcement are often seen as not worth the cost as evidenced by their relative lack of use.

By combining SFRC with various types of reinforcement (black steel, stainless steel, GFRP rebar), the total amount of steel can be reduced, limiting the total amount of damaged caused to a bridge deck. Potentially, the entire top mat of reinforcement could be eliminated or even all discrete reinforcement and the SFRC will provide additional crack control.

Project Deliverables

• [Final Report] Structural Fiber Reinforcement to Reduce Deck Reinforcement and Improve Long-Term Performance — MPC-20-413
  • View Research Brief

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