Static and fatigue behavior of concrete bridge deck slabs reinforced with BFRP and steel bars

• Published in: Structures (Oxford) 2024-07, Vol.65, p.106707, Article 106707
• Main Authors: Ali, Yahia M.S., Wang, Xin, Huawei, Guo, Liu, Shui, Da, Li, Wu, Zhishen, Moussa, Amr M.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fatigue behavior; Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP); Hybrid bars; Shear
• ISSN: 2352-0124; 2352-0124
• DOI: 10.1016/j.istruc.2024.106707

Using Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) has proved great promise as an alternative to conventional steel in bridge constructions owing to its high tensile strength and corrosion resistance. However, using Hybrid reinforced concrete (RC) slabs displayed enhanced stiffness, narrower crack width and larger bending capacity compared with FRP-RC slabs. This paper studies the static and fatigue performance of concrete bridge deck slabs reinforced with hybrid basalt-FRP (BFRP) and steel bars. The main parameters were the effective reinforcement ratio, the FRP-to-steel bars ratio Af/As, and the fatigue limit. The test results exhibited that superior fatigue behavior was achieved in the hybrid-RC slabs because the hybrid bars can better distribute the load and reduce stress concentration. In addition, the fatigue life growths with increasing the effective reinforcement ratio while reverse trend was observed when increasing Af/As ratio. In addition, increasing the upper fatigue load limit deteriorates the slab stiffness and significantly reduces the fatigue life. A regression analysis has been performed and revealed that the concrete deck slab can withstand 2 million cycles after fatigue loading of an upper fatigue load limit of 34 % of its ultimate static capacity.