Grant: Alliance Grants

Glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars are used in many Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) construction projects, primarily to avoid corrosion issues in Ontario bridges and highway infrastructure. The GFRP reinforcement is regularly used in barrier walls on highways and bridges and in bridge decks; both elements that are subjected to high levels of sulfates during winter months. The connection between these two elements forms a joint (corner) which, when loaded by an impacting vehicle, is subjected to an opening load. Such joints need to be able to withstand the effect of the loads without breaking the connection. Other examples of corner joints include culverts which are subjected to the closing loads and T-joints of retaining walls, and some barrier walls which depending on loading can be subject to reversed loading (both opening and closing loads). This proposal addresses specific issue of the performance of GFRP bars in reinforced concrete frame corners, particularly in rigid frames, abutments, culvers, parking garages, and barrier walls in bridges. In the current construction practices, concrete joints reinforced with GFRP bars are not directly prohibited, however, almost no experimental and theoretical evidence exists on the performance of such joints regarding proper detailing and reinforcing. Considering an increase in utilization of GFRP bars in Ontario transportation projects the lack of such guidelines poses a serious safety concern. The scope of the proposed project is conducting and analyzing results of large-scale laboratory testing on specimens representing concrete frame joints subject to both closing and opening loads. Also, within the scope of this proposal are nonlinear finite element analysis using commercial program ABAQUS, and indeterminate strut and tie designs. The outcome will be recommendations on reinforcement detailing and will be implemented in MTO bridge and highway projects.