FRP as a Retrofitting Solution for Bridge Piling
Recent earthquakes have demonstrated the failure of bridge pilings worldwide and the economic and human losses that such failures can cause. In many cases, these structures are submerged in water, making the repairs more challenging. Larger bridge piers are particularly difficult to retrofit. Many of these structures are submerged in water and their large size makes the repairs challenging. A recent technique developed by Afzir engineers is ideal for repair of these structures and makes use of FRP wet layup in combination with pre-manufactured lightweight FRP panels.
In the field these sheets are cut to desired length and can be wrapped around a deteriorated bridge piling two or more turns to create a solid seamless shell that is filled with grout or resin. The shell provides significant confining pressure and keeps the moisture away from the bridge piling, thereby bringing the corrosion process to a near halt.
Features & Benefits
Advantages of repair of bridge piling include:
- Repairs are applicable to all materials (steel, concrete, timber, etc.)
- Can increase axial, shear and flexural capacity of piling
- Repairs are ideal for submerged piling as well
- Minimal increase in dimensions of the piling
- Eliminates repair pf the concrete surface before strengthening
- Repairs are fast with no disruption of service