Advisory Committee Chair
Talat Salama
Advisory Committee Members
Michael Anderson
Fouad Fouad
Wilbur Hitchcock
Virginia Sisiopiku
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2008
Degree Name by School
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) School of Engineering
Abstract
hile traditional retrofitting methods for steel bridge girders could be time consuming and uneconomical, an alternative repair method is suggested using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) laminate strips, providing engineers with a competitive solution that will increase the life-cycle of repaired bridges. This study investigated its feasibility as an option to strengthen and rehabilitate steel bridges. The main advantages of using CFRP laminates are their light weight and durability, which results in ease of handling and maintenance. The dissertation conducted experimental and analytical work to evaluate the effectiveness of strengthening steel beams by the use of novel CFRP laminate strips configurations. The research involved the testing of five experimental composite beams, in addition to the development of approximately 100 finite element models. The results showed a significant gain in the beam’s elastic and ultimate capacities. The conclusion is that there are specific sensitive parameters controlling the effectiveness of the CFRP laminate rehabilitation technique. An adequate AASHTO design of the rehabilitation method, which takes into consideration the effective parameters, would result in an effective bridge structure.
Recommended Citation
Abd-El-Meguid, Ahmed Sabri, "Strengthening and Rehabilitation of Steel Bridge Girders Using CFRP Laminates" (2008). All ETDs from UAB. 254.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/254