Innovative Textile Technology for Modular Bridge Decks

民用基础设施的迅速恶化已成为建筑业面临的主要挑战之一。探索具有成本效益的结构系统和材料以延长使用寿命并提高基础设施的性能对美国经济至关重要。该项目的重点是桥面，传统的钢筋混凝土桥面无法提供足够的使用寿命。此外，目前的纤维增强聚合物（FRP）甲板是基于二维（2-D）层压板配置，这是容易分层失败，特别是在疲劳载荷。 拟议研究的主要目标是有史以来第一次采用三维编织工艺来开发创新的FRP桥面板。这就需要深入了解交织过程对桥面结构行为的影响，因此有必要进行测试并开发可靠的分析工具，以使用有限元模型在微观和宏观层面预测桥面的行为。 虽然通过使用新的三维编织工艺的低成本和高性能FRP桥面系统实现了拟议研究对社会的直接经济影响，但研究的其他影响包括将先进技术从纺织工程转移到土木工程竞技场，鼓励跨学科研究的精神，在更成熟的土木工程领域开发有效的解决方案。 工作计划既有实验部分，也有分析部分。实验工作包括：（I）FRP桥面的比例模型测试以及单元单元的挂片测试，以及（II）在静态和疲劳载荷下FRP桥面原型的大规模测试。分析工作包括使用微观和宏观模型对FRP桥面板进行有限元建模。一旦使用第一部分的实验结果校准模型，将进行参数研究，以优化甲板的形状和配置，在此基础上制造和测试原型甲板。 这项研究的结果将包括一个创新的适应3-D编织工艺制造的桥面使用FRP复合材料。研究结果还将包括建议桥面系统的分析工具和设计辅助工具，以及为每个设计应用寻找最佳解决方案的方法。

Rapid deterioration of civil infrastructure has created one of the major challenges facing the construction industry. It is vital to the U.S. economy that cost-effective structural systems and materials be explored to extend service life and to improve performance of infrastructure facilities. This project focuses on bridge decks, where conventional reinforced concrete decks have failed to provide adequate service life. Also, current fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) decks are based on two-dimensional (2-D) laminate configuration, which is susceptible to delamination failure especially under fatigue loading. The main objective of the proposed research is to, for the first time ever, adapt the 3-D weaving process to develop innovative FRP bridge decks. This requires a through understanding of the implications of the weaving process on the structural behavior of bridge decks, making it necessary to carry out tests and to develop reliable analytical tools to predict the behavior of the deck at the micro and macro levels using finite element models. While direct economical impact of the proposed research on the society is realized by the low-cost and high-performance FRP deck systems using the new 3-D weaving process, other impacts of the research includes transfer of advanced technology from the textile engineering to the civil engineering arena, encouraging the spirit of interdisciplinary research in developing effective solutions in the more established civil engineering field. The work plan has both experimental and analytical components. The experimental work consists of (I) testing of scale models of FRP deck as well as coupon testing of the cell units, and (II) large-scale testing of the prototype of the FRP deck under static and fatigue loading. The analytical work includes finite element modeling of the FRP deck using micro- and macro-models. Once the models are calibrated using the experimental results of Part I, a parametric study will be carried out to optimize the shape and configuration of the deck, upon which the prototype deck will be fabricated and tested. Results of this research will include an innovative adaptation of the 3-D weaving process for manufacturing of bridge decks using FRP composites. The results will also include analytical tools and design aids for the proposed deck system, and means of finding the optimal solution for each design application.