**A Briefing Paper on**

**Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Bridge Technology**

**For the AASHTO Subcommittee on Construction**

**August 2001, Wichita, Kansas**

**Steven E. Toillion**

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in partnership with State
Departments of Transportations (DOTs), has researched and demonstrated
the use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite, space age
technology for bridge construction. New breeds of these high performance
and innovative materials developed in the last 70 years are making
headway into the civil and bridge infrastructures. Structural components
for hybrid bridge construction such as FRP reinforcing elements, cable
and tendon systems, and laminates have been successfully used in highway
bridges. Currently, there are more vehicular bridge projects using FRP
composite materials in the United States than in any other country. Many
of these projects are funded through FHWA\'s Innovative Bridge Research
and Construction program (IBRCP). The current focus for the FHWA is to
advance the FRP composite technology to rebuild the American
transportation infrastructure in new bridge construction, as well as the
rehabilitation and maintenance of the existing bridge inventory. The use
of the FRP materials for repair and strengthening of structural concrete
members is increasing, and when properly designed and applied, it can be
effective and efficient.

The IBRCP was established under TEA-21. IBRCP is a 6-year program that
provides direction and funding to help local and country road agencies,
as well as State DOTs, defray the cost of incorporating innovative
materials and materials technologies in bridge repair, rehabilitation,
replacement, and new construction. The legislation establishes program
goals to emphasize the role of these high-performance materials and
construction techniques in reducing maintenance and life cycle costs.
Authorized funding levels for the program are:

  ------------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
                     **FY      **FY      **FY      **FY      **FY      **FY
                     1998**    1999**    2000**    2001**    2002**    2003**

  **Research**       \$ 1 M    \$ 1 M    \$ 1 M    \$ 1 M    \$ 1 M    \$ 1 M

  **Construction**   \$ 10 M   \$ 15 M   \$ 17 M   \$ 20 M   \$ 20 M   \$ 20 M
  ------------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Bridges on all public roads, including State and locally funded
projects, are eligible for IBRCP funding. During FY 1998-2001, the IBRCP
funded 84 FRP projects. Shown below is a breakdown of the projects by
application:

-   35% Decks

-   26% Bonded Reinforcement

-   17% Other (Includes Superstructure Beams, Piles, Railings, Etc.)

-   11% Rebar

-   6% Prestressing

-   5% FRP/Glulam

**FRP PROJECTS IN KANSAS**

The first vehicular FRP bridge in the United States was installed in
Russell County, KS in 1996. This bridge is a single span, slab bridge.
In 1999, two bridge decks were replaced using FRP deck panels. The
panels were placed on existing steel beams. These two bridges are on K
126 in Crawford County, KS. There are currently three projects
![](media/image1.jpeg){width="2.5in" height="1.875in"}underway. The
first project is looking at bridge rails. We have taken two, one
concrete and one steel, crash tested bridge rail systems and are testing
them on FRP deck panels. Static testing has been completed and the
actual crash testing will be done later this year. The second project is
to build a temporary bridge to use during construction projects. The
temporary bridge will use FRP deck panels on steel beams. The third
project is using FRP to strengthen existing girders. Six concrete 'T'
beams are being strengthened or repaired and tested to failure.

**FRP VIRTUAL TEAM**

The FHWA created a FRP Virtual Team (V-Team). The objective of the team
is to:

> 1\) Accelerate the delivery of technical expertise on FRP composites
> bridge technology
>
> 2\) Develop and lead a national agenda on FRP composites bridge
> technology
>
> 3\) Serve as a reliable and creditable information source to the
> public

The V-Team is made up of individuals from the FHWA, State DOTs,
academia, and industry. The team has had two face-to-face meetings and a
number of teleconferences. A database of FRP projects is being created
and will be available to the public soon. The database and other FRP
information can be accessed through the FHWA's bridge web site,
<http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/index.htm>. The products of the team
will include the following:

> 1\) Develop a customer-oriented virtual team
>
> 2\) Develop a community for continuous learning
>
> 3\) Develop and maintain a homepage and network
>
> 4\) Develop and maintain a national knowledge management resource
>
> 5\) Maintain a database on FRP bridge projects

If you have any FRP related questions of any kind please submit them on
the web site or call one of the V-Team members directly.

**[FHWA]{.underline}** **[STATE DOT]{.underline}**

Milo Cress, NE (402) 437-5977 Pat Hipley, CALTRANS (916) 227-8608

John Hooks, HQ (202) 366-6712 Paul Liles, Jr., GA DOT (404) 656-5280

Gary Jakovich, EFLHD (703) 404-6236 Jerry O\'Connor, NY DOT (607)
324-8456

Eric Munley, TFHRC (202) 493-3046

Roland Nimis, WRC (415) 744-2653 **[OTHER]{.underline}**

Tom Saad, MRC (708) 283-3521 Gregg Blaszak, BG Intrnl (410) 337-9779

Jeff Smith, SRC (404) 562-3905 Nabil Grace, Lawrence Tech (248) 204-2556

Benjamin Tang, HQ (202) 366-4592 Mark Henderson, LJB Engrs (937)
259-5090

Lou Triandafilou, ERC (410) 962-3648 Sami H. Rizkalla, NC State (919)
513-4336

Steve Toillion, KS (785) 267-7281