Damage detection and repair methods for GFRP bridge decks.
-
2011-12-01
-
Details:
-
Creators:
-
Corporate Creators:
-
Corporate Contributors:
-
Subject/TRT Terms:
-
Resource Type:
-
Geographical Coverage:
-
Edition:Final report; Mar. 2009-Nov. 2011.
-
Corporate Publisher:
-
Abstract:Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) decks are being considered for use as a replacement for worn steel grid bridge
decks due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and fast installation time. In this research, two nondestructive evaluation
techniques were considered for use in evaluating in-service GFRP bridge decks for damage: acoustic emissions (AE) and
infrared thermography (IRT).
Three different commercially available deck systems were tested in positive and negative bending test setups. The
testing consisted of loading each specimen sequentially with service, then ultimate, then service level loads, which provided
AE data for both undamaged and damaged deck specimens. Damage was induced on the specimens by loading them to their
ultimate capacity. The specimens generally exhibited linear elastic behavior up to failure. AE feature data were evaluated
using intensity analysis and recovery ratio analysis (RRA). The recovery ratio analysis was adapted from calm ratio
analysis, which is based on the Kaiser effect. RRA provided clear distinction between damaged and undamaged decks in all
three specimens. Evaluation criteria based on this method are proposed. A modified form of RRA was then used on data
collected during a bridge load test of the Hillsboro canal bridge.
Initial IRT work required finite element simulation of the heat transfer process to determine optimal heating and data
acquisition parameters that were used to inspect GFRP bridge decks in the laboratory. Experimental testing was performed
in a laboratory setting on damaged and undamaged GFRP bridge deck specimens from three different manufacturers. IRT
evaluation focused on identifying damage in the specimens that had been loaded to their ultimate flexural strength. It was
demonstrated that IRT successfully identified features of two types of GFRP bridge decks and that severe
delamination/debonding could be detected under ideal circumstances. Additional research is needed to improve detection of
severe damage, including methods to reduce the interference of surface imperfections, such as non-uniform heating, which
are inherent to the GFRP bridge decks examined in the current study.
-
Format:
-
Funding:
-
Collection(s):
-
Main Document Checksum:
-
Download URL:
-
File Type: