The overall goal of this project is the experimental evaluation and design of unfilled and concrete-filled FRP composite piles for load-bearing in bridges. This report covers Task 6, FRP Composite Pile Axial Compression Testing. Hollow and concrete-filled fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) piles with a nominal diameter of 24 inches were tested in axial compression to examine degradation in apparent longitudinal modulus due to pile driving. All specimens achieved the proof load of 1000 kips with no visible damage. Hollow piles showed no reduction in apparent longitudinal modulus due to driving. No definitive trend in apparent longitudinal modulus could be seen in the concrete-filled piles, because the driven piles were filled with concrete from a different supplier 205 days prior to the baseline piles.

US Transportation Collection