Nabil F. Grace Ph.D, PE
 

Chair and University Distinguished Professor, Civil Engineering Department
Director, Center for Innovative Materials Research

Lawrence Technological University
21000 West Ten Mile Road Southfield, MI 48075

 

Innovative System of Continuous Pre-stressed Composite Bridges for the 21st Century

This research presents a new concept dealing with the development of a multi-span continuously pre-stressed concrete bridge system that requires no shoring or forms and has superior characteristics compared to conventional continuous bridge systems. The non-corrosive bridge system will be built of: (i) modified pre-cast pre-tensioned, with internal carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) strands, Double-T (DT) girders, (ii) cast-in-place continuous deck, reinforced with glass carbon fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP or CFRP) re-bars, connected to the DT through CFRP or GFRP shear connectors, and (iii) externally draped continuous CFRP post-tension strands. An analytical and experimental study will be conducted by Junior and Senior undergraduate students to examine the static, dynamic, fatigue and ultimate load characteristics of the multi-span continuously prestressed new bridge system. These include cracking, flexural strength, punching shear strength, damping response, natural frequencies and associated mode shapes and fatigue strength. The multi-span continuously pre-stressed bridge system and its construction technique present a leap forward as well as a breakthrough in the development of a new approach for non-corrosive efficient bridges. It will result in considerable savings in construction time and costs and in the complete elimination of corrosion problems in future USA bridges.
 




  















 

Lawrence Technological University
21000 West Ten Mile Road • Southfield, MI 48075-1058 • © 2012 1.800.CALL.LTU