Strengthening of Bridge G270 with Externally Bonded Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Reinforcement

A pilot study to apply externally bonded CFRP sheets to strengthen a simple span reinforced concrete solid slab bridge was presented. The objective was to remove the current load posting. This bridge is a load posted structure on a heavy truck route. Strengthening with CFRP sheets was accomplished in three days without traffic interruption. Preparation consisted of light sandblasting and no concrete repair. The University of Missouri at Rolla conducted the pilot study for the Missouri Department of Transportation. The testing procedure included the construction of two test beams to simulate bridge deck performance with and without strengthening. Laboratory setup, instrumentation and test results of two full-scale test beams are presented. Field load tests of the bridge were performed by the University of Missouri at Columbia to verify the increase in flexural strength achieved with the application of externally bonded CFRP. The method used to instrument and field load test the bridge along with the subsequence load-deflection characteristics is presented. Comparisons are made between the analytical model, laboratory beam specimens strengthened with CFRP, and in situ field tests of the actual bridge before and after strengthening.