Analysis of Cellular FRP Composite Bridge Deck Utilizing Conformable Tire Patch Loading

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are increasingly being used in bridge deck applications. However, there are no comprehensive standards or design guidelines to characterize FRP deck systems. Current practice has mostly utilized trial and error approaches based on case studies involving laboratory tests on deck panels and field tests. One of the areas often neglected is the need for proper loading method for the FRP deck with cellular structure. It has been observed that the type of loading patch greatly influences the failure mode of cellular FRP composite deck. The contact pressure distribution of real truck loading is non-uniform with more concentration near the center of the contact area. Conversely, conventional steel patch loading on FRP composite cellular decks produces stress concentration near edges. A proposed simulated tire patch has been examined for loading on FRP deck with the load distribution characterized by pressure sensitive sensors and 3D contact analysis using ANSYS 11.0. A new conformable pressure profile has been proposed for loading on FRP composite deck systems. Proposed profile loading has been applied in FEA simulation of a cellular FRP deck panel installed at Hawthorne Street Bridge in Covington, VA. Results showed much higher strain and displacement values with proposed profile loading compared to those for uniform pressure profile. Parametric studies have also been carried out to better understand the effect of cell size. This provides additional insight to cost-effective design. Detailed experimental and finite element simulation results are documented in this paper.