Field Investigation of Bridge Deck Reinforced with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) Rebar

Summary:

For three years researchers studied an Elgin, Minnesota, area bridge that used glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcement in its deck to prevent corrosion caused by water and road salt infiltration. Corrosion is the primary threat to steel-reinforced concrete bridge decks in Minnesota. Corroded steel expands, putting pressure on concrete, which can then crack. Repair is expensive, and bridge owners are looking for alternatives to steel rebar. A research team instrumented the GFRP-reinforced bridge deck, monitored temperature and strain over three years, conducted on-site inspections and loading tests, and evaluated the life cycle cost of GFRP in comparison to epoxy-coated rebar. Results confirmed previous studies of GFRP performance in other regions, indicating that GFRP is a reasonable alternative to steel rebar in bridge decks and appears to offer more attractive life cycle cost benefits than epoxy-coated rebar.

Final Deliverables:

• Report #2020-05
• Research Summary

Related Materials:

• GFRP Rebar Shows Promise for use in Bridge Decks  - (Blog Post)

Related Research:

• Assessment of Bridge Decks with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) Reinforcement