Fiber reinforced polymer composites for the superstructure of a short-span rural bridge

Civil engineers have been seeking alternative materials to steel and concrete that may be less vulnerable to environmental damage. In addition, rising public concern about traffic delays experienced during the construction have increasingly influenced them to design bridges with materials and details that can be built rapidly. At the same time, life-cycle costs must be competitive with traditional materials because of the limited resources available to maintain the highway infrastructure. Fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) are one such alternative material. New York has recently began using and evaluating FRPs for bridge repair to strengthen deteriorated components, remove load postings, and prolong service life. This paper describes one such application, that allowed a bridge superstructure to be replaced in significantly less time than a conventional bridge project, in a cost-effective manner. The bridge design, fabrication, installation, proof-testing, and cost-benefit details are summarized.