Structures Design
Structures Design - Transportation Innovation Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) |
Overview The deterioration of reinforcing and prestressing steel within concrete is one of the prime causes of failure of concrete structures. In addition to being exposed to weather, concrete transportation structures in Florida are also commonly located in aggressive environments such as marine locations and inland water crossings where the water is acidic. Cracks in concrete create paths for the agents of the aggressive environments to reach the reinforcing and/or prestressing steel and begin the corrosive oxidation process. An innovative approach to combat this major issue is to replace traditional steel bar and strand reinforcement with Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) reinforcing bars and strands. FRP reinforcing bars and strands are made from filaments or fibers held in a polymeric resin matrix binder. FRP reinforcing can be made from various types of fibers such as glass (GFRP), basalt (BFRP) or carbon (CFRP). A surface treatment is typically provided that facilitates a bond between the reinforcing and the concrete. Beneficial characteristics of FRP reinforcing include:
Like any construction material, there are pros and cons to the use of FRP reinforcing:
Due diligence must be done to ensure FRP benefits outweigh the costs of implementation for each concrete component. Traditionally, composite materials like FRP have been used extensively in aerospace and consumer sporting goods applications where the material's high strength to weight ratios were first exploited. In the 1960s US Government agencies recognized the potential benefits that composites can provide to society's infrastructure and thus begin funding significant amounts of research in the field of FRPs. Since then advances in the field of polymers, advancements in production techniques and implementation of authoritative design guidelines have resulted in a rapid increase in usage of FRP bars and strands, especially in the last 5 years. Because of these advances, the FDOT Structures Design Office has implemented its first specifications and design criteria to support the use of FRP bars and strands in major bridge components. BFRP is an emerging technology in the US, and as such still in a development phase by the Department for Specification and Standards. The use of these innovative material in certain Florida bridge components will keep Florida on the leading edge in the design of state-of-the-art transportation facilities. Usage Restrictions / Parameters GFRP, BFRP and/or CFRP reinforcing bars may be used in the following concrete components when approved by the SSDE:
The use of GFRP, BFRP and/or CFRP reinforcing bars in other locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Developmental Standard Plans are available for Approach Slabs (GFRP Reinforced Flexible Pavement Approaches) and Gravity Walls (Option C - GFRP Reinforcement). These can be used following the approval process in FDOT Design Manual (FDM), Chapter 115. Standard Plans for 12, 14, 18, 24 and 30 inch square piles as well as 54 and 60 inch cylinder piles with CFRP strands are available and can be used following the FDOT Structures Manual, Volume 1 Structures Design Guidelines (SDG) Table 3.5.1-1 requirements. Design Standards for precast concrete CFRP/GFRP and HSSS/GFRP sheet pile wall are also available for use following SDG 3.12 requirements. CFRP strands may be used in other prestressed concrete piles when approved by the SSDE. These usage restrictions take into consideration the following items:
Design Criteria See the following references for the application of FRP bars and strands for concrete reinforcement:
Additional design and detailing criteria are available in the FDOT Structures Manual, Volume 4 Fiber Reinforced Polymer Guidelines. The potential use of FRP reinforcing bars or strands for a given application will be evaluated on a project by project basis. Extensive coordination with the Structures Design Office will be required in order to develop acceptable final designs. See Structures Manual, Volume 4, Fiber Reinforced Polymer Guidelines for more information. Specifications Specifications 400, 410, 415, 450, 932 and 933 are available on the Specifications webpage for the use of FRP reinforcing bars and strands. Additional Developmental Specifications for other concrete structural components will be written and made available on an as-needed basis. Standards The following Standard Plans and associated Instructions are available on the Standards webpage for the following applications:
The following Developmental Design Standards and associated Instructions are available on the Developmental Design Standards webpage:
Development of additional Developmental Design Standards for Concrete Box Culverts is planned for the future. Producer Quality Control Program FRP producers seeking to be included on the FRP Production Facility Listing may find guidance for material acceptance on the State Materials Office Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites webpage. Projects: (Please contact the coordinators at the bottom of the page to submit a fast facts sheet and have your project included in the list.) Fast-Facts sheets for selected projects are listed below:
Technology Transfer (T2) The following links to FDOT meetings, seminars and workshops are provide as background information for potential users and industry partners: 2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
FHWA FRP Composite Technology Active or recently completed FDOT sponsored research projects: BFRP Reinforcing:
Closeout Meeting Presentation (6MB) Executive Summary (1MB); Final Report (126 MB)
i. Final Report (1 MB); Final Report with Appendix A, B, & C (20 MB) ii. Phase 1: BVD30 986-01 “Performance Evaluation of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) Reinforcing Bars Embedded in Concrete” (2018-2019): iii. Phase 2: BVD34 986-02 “BFRP Reinforced Bridge-Link Slab Instrumentation and Monitoring” (2019-2021): iv. Phase 3: Technology Transfer: 2019 FDOT Transportation Symposium - FRP-RC Design Training. 2019 HDOT Peer Exchange Seminar – BFRP-RC Standardization of Design & Materials:
GFRP Reinforcing:
Closeout Meeting Presentation Final Report
Deliverable 1A “End of Construction Report” Deliverable 1B & 2B “Durability Tests (Initial & 9-months)” Deliverable 2A "Six-Month Inspection Report" Deliverable 3B "Durability Tests at 18 months" Deliverable 4 "Two-Year Post Construction Report”
Deliverable 1 “Literature Review of Pile Driving System” Deliverable 2A “Pile Impactor and Restraint Design” Deliverable 3 “Literature Review of Spirals under Impact Loading and Bending” Deliverable 4A & 4B "Plans for Pile Instrumentation, Testing, Design Calcs, and Specs" Deliverables 5 "Analytical model and Finite Element model to predict the test results” Deliverables 6 -10: pending
CFRP Prestressing:
Contact Information Steve Nolan, P.E. Senior Structures Design Engineer Phone: (850) 414-4272 e-mail: Steven.Nolan@dot.state.fl.us |