New Bridge Piers Using Load Bearing Concrete-Filled GFRP Tubes

Abstract

The paper presents a study of installation of concrete filled fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tubes (CFFT) piles as production piles to support the piers of two new bridges in Virginia. This will allow monitoring the long term performance of these piles and to compare with conventional prestressed concrete piles. The field tests presented were also undertaken to investigate the engineering performance of CFFT composite piles as load bearing foundation elements in bridge support applications. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the driveability and the axial and lateral load behavior of CFFT piles and compare their performance to conventional prestressed concrete piles, prior to construction of the bridges.