A GFRP bar bent was recently developed to overcome the problems of tensile stress reduction at the bent. It is made of corrugated plastic tube formed with required shape of the bent. The tube is then filled with GFRP material in liquid conditions and left to dry.This developed GFRP bent was proposed to be used in one of the new bridges in Ontario.This paper investigates the use of GFRP bar bents as stirrups at the joint between the steel post of the bridge guard-rail system with the deck slab cantilever. In addition, GFRP barswith headed ends are utilized for better anchorage at the post-deck slab joint. Two full scale cantilever post specimens were erected and tested to-collapse. The first specimen cantilever was reinforced with reinforcing steel bars, while the second one was reinforced with GFRP straight bars, bent bars and those with headed ends as applicable locations. Results showed that GFRP-reinforced specimen is as good as that reinforced with steel bars. All specimens failed due to excessive torsional-shear cracks at the post-curb junction, resulting in spalling of the concrete cover at the outer face of the curb at the steel post location.
Reference:
Sennah, K.; Nikravan, N.; Louie, J.; Hassan, A.; Al-Bayati, N; El-Sayed-M; Sayed-Ahmed, M.(2011). Bridge Deck-guardrail Anchorage Detailing for Sustainable Construction. CDCC - The Fourth International Conference on Durability & Sustainability of Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composite for Construction and Rehabilitation. ISBN: 978-2-7622-0196-3, pp. 337-334.
Mahmoud Sayed Ahmed
PhD Civil Engineering Candidate
Yeates School of Graduate Studies
PhD Civil Engineering Candidate
Yeates School of Graduate Studies
Ryerson University
