Carbon fiber to strengthen bridge panel
Carbon fiber to strengthen bridge panel
(OP)
Has anyone experience installing this carbone fiber made by Fortress Stabilization Systems? This carbon fiber is to help strengthen existing concrete. I have this bridge rehabilitation project that this carbon fiber maybe of good use to save the bridge from being replace.





RE: Carbon fiber to strengthen bridge panel
Right now ACI has a publication on the use of Carbon fiber matrices or Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymeres CFRPs along with Glass and other types of fibers. There is a movement to have AASHTO adopt much of the language of ACI but then that was dropped at the last AASHTO bridge subcommittee meeting.
As a result there is an application out there but know one really knows how to use it properly or design it properly (except a few engineers and researchers and vendors) and no guide specification for the engineer to use.
When there is no guide spec, it's hard for the engineer to take on a project like this as he assumes to much liability for the design and performance of a product he can't show what really is the standard of care for the industry.
There are tons of papers for strengthening concrete beams for flexure, shear and torsion. Check out ASCE's Journal for Composites in Construction. ACI journals are also packed wiht good information.
Good luck.
Regards,
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Qshake
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RE: Carbon fiber to strengthen bridge panel
RE: Carbon fiber to strengthen bridge panel
RE: Carbon fiber to strengthen bridge panel
RE: Carbon fiber to strengthen bridge panel
Regards,
![[pipe] pipe](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/pipe.gif)
Qshake
Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.
RE: Carbon fiber to strengthen bridge panel
The design is based on the similar principles as typical design of the reiforced concrete, the only difference being position of the reinforcement and higher Young modulus than for typical steel.
Key issue is proper bonding of the FRP to the concrete, and in the qouted case 1/2" dia drilled epoxied fiber inserts were used.
Specification for FRP iis attached.
Regards
Wiktor
RE: Carbon fiber to strengthen bridge panel
If you want assistance contact the Civil Engineering Department at Missouri Science and Technology in Rolla, MO. They have been doing research for years on Carbon Fiber and are behind the proposed ACI code for it.
Agree with the posts above, you have to watch the contractor on this and inspect all work. One misstep and your results will not be what you designed.