CCEER-05-2: A Study of Fiber Reinforced Plastics for Seismic Bridge Restrainers

Abstract

Abstract: Easily installed and inspected fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) as an alternative to steel for restrainer construction to reduce bridge hinge movements during earthquakes was examined. Glass, carbon, and hybrid (glass/carbon) restrainers were constructed and dynamically tested in the large-scale structures laboratory. Work included:

1. Tensile tests on FRP strips and on FRP/concrete bond versus loading rate 2. FRP restrainer development, including dynamic testing 3. Shake table data analysis and comparisons of FRP, steel, and SMA restrainer performance 4. Development of a FRP restrainer design method. Findings confirm FRP restrainer potential for future implementation to structures Results include:

1. FRP strength is strain-rate insensitive 2. FRP/concrete bond strength is a function of concrete shear strength and is strain rate sensitive 3. Flexible restrainer construction and restrainer/concrete bond methods are demonstrated 4. A simplified FRP restrainer design method, more realistic than AASHTO, and that considers bridge structure dynamic characteristics, is proposed