Rehabilitation of Railroad Bridges Using GFRP Composites

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
GangaRao V. S. Hota ◽  
P. V. Vijay ◽  
Reza S. Abhari
Keyword(s):  
Load Testing ◽  
Gfrp Composites ◽  
Shear Moduli ◽  
Railroad Bridges ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Gfrp Composite ◽  
Pile Cap ◽  
Bending Loads ◽  
Railroad Bridge ◽  
Scale 8

The use of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite materials to rehabilitate timber Railroad Bridge is investigated in this research. Two different rehabilitation methods were developed and implemented to strengthen timber stringers using GFRP. These methods are referred to as GFRP spray lay-up and vacuum bagging of GFRP wraps around timber members. Tests were conducted on four full scale (8″×16″×12″) timber stringers in the WVU-CFC laboratory under four point bending loads. These creosote treated timber stringers were loaded up to 20% of their ultimate loads to verify their properties. The stringers were then repaired using the above two rehabilitation methods and retested to failure. Strengthening the stringers with GFRP composites increased the shear moduli of the two stringers by 41% and 267%. Rehabilitation and load testing were carried out on an open-deck-timber railroad bridge built during early 1900’s on the South Branch Valley Railroad (SBVR) owned by the WVDOT in Moorefield, WV. Specifically, field rehabilitation involved repairing piles using GFRP composite wraps and phenolic formaldehyde adhesives. Using a 80-ton locomotive, static and dynamic tests were performed to determine the dynamic response of the substructure. Rehabilitated SBVR Bridge showed a 43% and 46% strain reduction in the piles and pile cap, respectively.

EFFECT OF NANOCLAY CONTENT ON FLEXURAL PROPERTIES OF GLASS FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER (GFRP) COMPOSITES

2015 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Widia Wahyuni Amir ◽  
Aidah Jumahat ◽  
Jamaluddin Mahmud
Keyword(s):  
Flexural Strength ◽  
Flexural Modulus ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Flexural Test ◽  
Gfrp Composites ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Gfrp Composite ◽  
Nanoclay Content

This paper presents a study on the flexural properties of glass fiber reinforced polymer composites. The epoxy-nanoclay resin was milled using a three roll mill machine to produce exfoliated structure nanocomposites. The fiber laminates specimens were manufactured by vacuum bagging system. These specimens were tested in the three point bend configuration following the ASTM D7264. The flexural modulus, flexural strength and strain to failure were then determined based on the flexural test results. The results showed that flexural modulus and flexural strength increases when a certain amount of nanoclay was included in the resin system. A maximum of 80% and 37% improvement of flexural strength and flexural modulus, respectively, were found at 5 wt% nanoclay content when compared to the neat GFRP composite. The improved properties of GFRP composites were achieved mostly due to an increase on the interfacial surface areas as well as a well-dispersion of nanoclay in the GFRP composite system. The fracture surfaces of specimens after flexural test were observed under FESEM. The results showed that the compressive failure region in the fiber was a dominant failure mechanism of the specimens due to a large compressive area on the fracture surface.

scholarly journals Investigation bending behaviors of the slabs with glass fiber reinforced polymer composite and steel bars

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 227-238
Author(s):  
Alper Karadis ◽  
Kabil Cetin ◽  
Taha Yasin Altıok ◽  
Ali Demir
Keyword(s):  
Glass Fiber ◽  
Polypropylene Fiber ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Polypropylene Fibers ◽  
Gfrp Composites ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Gfrp Composite ◽  
Steel Bars

Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites have been frequently used in engineering applications in recent years. GFRP composites produced by using glass fiber and epoxy resin have significant advantages such as high strength, lightness, and resistance against corrosion. However, GFRP composites exhibit a more brittle behavior than steel bars. This study aims to investigate both the experimental and numerical bending behavior of slabs with GFRP bars, steel bars, and polypropylene fiber. Within the scope of experimental studies, 5 slabs were built. Two slabs called SS-1 and SS-2 have only steel bars. Two slabs called GFRPS-1 and GFRPS-2 have only GFRP composite bars. A slab called GFRPS-F has both GFRP composite bars and polypropylene fibers. Polypropylene fibers are added to fresh concrete to improve the slab’s ductility. Three-point bending tests have been carried out on the slabs. All slabs are subjected to monotonic increasing distributed loading until collapse. As a result of tests, GFRPS slabs have carried %53 higher load than SS slabs. However, the SS slabs have exhibited a more ductile behavior compared to the GFRPS slabs. GFRPS slabs have more and larger crack width than other slabs. The addition of 5% polypropylene fiber by volume to concrete has a significant contributed to ductility and tensile behavior of slab. The average displacement value of GFRPS-F slab is 22.3% larger than GFRPS slab. GFRPS-F slab has better energy consumption capacity than other slabs. The energy consumption capacity of GFRPS-F slab is 1.34 and 1.38 times that of SS and GFRPS slabs, respectively. The number of cracks in GFRPS-F slab is fewer than GFRPS slabs. The fibers have contributed to the serviceability of the GFRPS slabs by limiting the displacement and the crack width. GFRPS-F exhibits elastoplastic behavior and almost returns to its first position when the loading is stopped. In addition, experimental results are verified with numerical results obtained by using Abaqus software. Finally, it is concluded that GFRP composite bars can be safely used in field concretes, concrete roads, prefabricated panel walls, and slabs.

Flexural Analysis on GFRP Composites Subjected to Cyclic Gradual Load and Cyclic Impact

2013 ◽  
Vol 685 ◽  
pp. 35-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Pazhanivel ◽  
N. Ramadoss ◽  
K. Poyyathappan ◽  
P. Anandan ◽  
G.B. Bhaskar
Keyword(s):  
Flexural Strength ◽  
Composite Laminates ◽  
Impact Load ◽  
Flexural Modulus ◽  
Gfrp Composites ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Gfrp Composite ◽  
Flexural Analysis ◽  
Cyclic Impact ◽  
Point Bend

Glass fiber reinforced polymeric (GFRP) composite laminates have been prepared by hand layup method. According to ASTM standard, the test specimens have been prepared to carry out the flexural bending tests. The specimens have been subjected to both cyclic impact load and cyclic gradual load with various frequencies prior to the flexural bending analysis. Three point bend method has been adopted to find out the flexural strength and flexural modulus. Flexural strength and modulus have been calculated from the load deflection curve obtained from the tensometer for respective specimens. The flexural bending properties of GFRP composites subjected to cyclic gradual load and cyclic impact have been compared and found that the GFRP composite materials are effective for gradual cyclic load than the cyclic impact load.

Dynamic compressive response of 3D GFRP composites with shear thickening fluid (STF) matrix as cushioning materials

2021 ◽  
pp. 002199832098424
Author(s):  
Mohsen Jeddi ◽  
Mojtaba Yazdani
Keyword(s):  
Shear Thickening ◽  
Low Velocity Impact ◽  
Gfrp Composites ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Shear Thickening Fluid ◽  
Compressive Response ◽  
Reinforced Polymer ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Shear Thickening Fluids

Whereas most previous studies have focused on improving the penetration resistance of Shear Thickening Fluids (STFs) treated composites, in this study, the dynamic compressive response of single and multi-ply 3 D E-Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) composites with the STF matrix was investigated by using a drop-weight low-velocity impact test. The experimental results revealed the STF improved the compressive and cushioning performance of the composites such that with increasing its concentration, further improvement was observed. The five-ply composite containing the STF of 30 wt% silica nanoparticles and 1 wt% carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reduced the applied peak force by 56% and 26% compared to a steel plate and five-ply neat samples, respectively. A series of repeated impacts was performed, and it was found that the performance of high-concentration composites is further decreased under this type of loading.

Low velocity impact response and damages of GFRP composite tubes under room and cryogenic temperatures

2021 ◽  
pp. 002199832110293
Author(s):  
Memduh Kara ◽  
Mustafa Arat ◽  
Mesut Uyaner
Keyword(s):  
Room Temperature ◽  
Filament Winding ◽  
Low Velocity Impact ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Composite Tubes ◽  
Velocity Impact ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Gfrp Composite ◽  
Force Time

In this paper, we have investigated the damages of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite tubes under the effect of low-velocity impact (LVI) at cryogenic environment conditions and room temperature. A GFRP composite tube consists of 6 layered E-glass/epoxy samples with a ± 55° winding angle, which produced by the filament winding method. Composite tubes either at room temperature or conditioned by liquid nitrogen at different temperature values (273 K, 223 K, 173 K, and 77 K) were impacted at 5, 7.5, and 10 J. Also, force-time and force-displacement graphs were plotted. The damaged regions of the samples were scrutinized. The damage areas of the GFRP composite tubes were smaller as the temperature decreased. However, the energy absorbed at low-temperature conditions was slightly higher than that absorbed in room temperature. Besides, no micro-cracks developed in the composite tubes after cryogenic conditioning.

scholarly journals The Effect of High Glass Fiber Content and Reinforcement Combination on Pulse-Echo Ultrasonic Measurement of Composite Ship Structures

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 379
Author(s):  
Sang-Gyu Lee ◽  
Daekyun Oh ◽  
Jong Hun Woo
Keyword(s):  
Glass Fiber ◽  
Composite Laminates ◽  
Composite Structures ◽  
Ultrasonic Waves ◽  
Ship Structures ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Gfrp Composite ◽  
Chopped Strand Mat ◽  
Composite Ship ◽  
Pulse Echo

Ship structures made of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite laminates are considerably thicker than aircraft and automobile structures and more likely to contain voids. The production characteristics of such composite laminates were investigated in this study by ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (NDE). The laminate samples were produced from E-glass chopped strand mat (CSM) and woven roving (WR) fabrics with different glass fiber contents of 30–70%. Approximately 300 pulse-echo ultrasonic A-scans were performed on each sample. The laminate samples produced from only CSM tended to contain more voids compared with those produced from a combination of CSM and WR, resulting in the relative density of the former being lower than the design value, particularly for high glass fiber contents of ≥50%. The velocity of the ultrasonic waves through the CSM-only laminates was also lower for higher glass fiber contents, whereas it steadily increased for combined CSM–WR laminates. Burn-off tests of the laminates further revealed that the fabric configuration of the combined CSM–WR laminates was of higher quality, prevented the formation of voids, and improved inter-layer bonding. These findings indicate that combined CSM–WR laminates should be used to achieve more accurate ultrasonic NDE of GFRP composite structures.

Reference-free dynamic displacements of railroad bridges using low-cost sensors

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1291-1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose A Gomez ◽  
Ali I Ozdagli ◽  
Fernando Moreu
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Dynamic Data ◽  
Train Derailment ◽  
Railroad Bridges ◽  
Cost System ◽  
Railroad Bridge ◽  
Bridge Crossing ◽  
Bridge Responses ◽  
Free Dynamic

Displacements of railroad bridges under service loads are important parameters in assessing bridge conditions and risk of train derailment, according to railroad bridge managers. Measuring bridge responses in the field is often expensive and challenging due to the high costs of sensing equipment. Consequently, railroad bridge managers typically rent or subcontract field measurements to others or choose not to collect dynamic data in the field and make visual inspections. This article studies the use of a low-cost data acquisition platform to measure reference-free dynamic displacements of railroad bridges by combining low-cost microcontrollers and accelerometers. Researchers used off-the-shelf systems to measure accelerations and reconstructed reference-free displacements from several railroad bridge crossing events by running trains with different levels of serviceability in the laboratory. The results obtained from the proposed low-cost sensors were compared with those of commercial sensing equipment. The results show that low-cost sensors and commercial sensing systems have comparable accuracy. The results of this study show that the proposed platform estimates reference-free displacements with a peak error between 20% and 30% and a root mean square error between 10% and 20%, which is similar to commercial structural health monitoring systems. The proposed low-cost system is approximately 300 times less expensive than the commercial sensing equipment. The ultimate goal of this research is to increase the intelligent assessment of bridges by training owners and inspectors to collect dynamic data of their interest with their own resources.

scholarly journals ANALISA EKSPERIMENTAL MODULUS ELASTISITAS BAHAN KOMPOSIT GLASS FIBER REINFORCED PLASTIC (GFRP) BERDASARKAN VARIASI DIAMETER SERAT AKIBAT BEBAN IMPAK LAJU REGANGAN TINGGI

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Sarman Sarman
Keyword(s):  
High Strain ◽  
Fiber Diameter ◽  
Strain Wave ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Momentum Theory ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Gfrp Composite ◽  
Alternative Materials

<span class="longtext"><em><span>GFRP composite is one of the alternative materials that the most common as a replacement for metal. This material has a light weight, easy to shape, good strength, and the production cost is relatively cheaper. This study aims to investigate the effects of fiber diameter variation of mechanical behavior, particularly on the load of high strain rate impact. The application of impulse momentum theory in the elastic region is the basic science for this case. The AGC apparatus is equipment that used for this test because it could generate the high strain wave rate in the single direction loading. Specimen is placed in the position of tight end against the end of the input bar. The results showed that the increase in fiber diameter variations affect the value of E that is produced. Thus, it is become a recommendation for the use of this material in certain circumstances.</span></em></span>

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