Title:
Effect of CFRP Strengthening on the Behavior of Older and Newer Bent Caps in a Widened Concrete Bridge
Author(s):
Yazan Almomani, Nur Yazdani, and Eyosias Beneberu
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
346
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
81-92
Keywords:
bridge bent caps; widened bridges, CFRP strengthening; numerical modeling; finite element analysis; load testing
DOI:
10.14359/51730495
Date:
1/1/2021
Abstract:
A reinforced concrete bridge built in 1940 and located in Dallas, Texas, exhibited moderate to severe
corrosion-related deterioration in the concrete bent caps. The damaged bent caps were repaired with epoxy mortar and
externally strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. Three-dimensional numerical models
of the bent caps were created to better understand the cap behavior in bending and during various stages of the repair.
The models were calibrated using data obtained from full-scale live load bridge testing. . The models were loaded
until failure (rapid crack opening or CFRP debonding) to show the crack patterns, strain distributions and the bent cap
capacities. The bent cap moment capacity increased by about 30% after repair/strengthening, because the original bent
caps had extensive damage at the flexure-critical areas. The dowel-connected newer bent caps from the 1970 widened
bridge contributed to the load sharing with the older bent caps.