Development of sustainable PL-3 bridge barrier system reinforced with special-profile GFRP bars for market competitiveness

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Corrosion of steel reinforcement due to environmental effects is a major cause of deterioration problems in bridge barriers. A newly-developed reinforcing bars made of glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) not only addresses this durability problem but also provides exceptionally high tensile strength. TEMCORP developed GFRP bars, designated as "TemBar", as a replacement to the traditional reinforcing steel bars found in a wide variety of infrastructure applications. Since TEMCOPP is looking for applications of these bars in bridges and structures for marketing, the proposed research is intended to develop performance-based design of bridge barriers incorporating the developed straight and bent TemBars through experimental trial and error due to lack of reliable information in design codes. The first part of this research deals with conducting pull-out tests on the developed straight hooked bars to determine their pull-out capacity that will then be used to determine the required bar spacing in the barrier wall. The second part of this research will include testing to-collapse selected actual-size barrier-deck slab geometries to determine their ultimate load carrying capacities and failure modes. Cost analysis will be conducted to assist the company on the next step of market readiness. The research outcome is expected to advance the state-of-practice on the use of rust-free GFRP bars in eliminating maintenance of bridge superstructures that results from the use of deicing salts in the winter times. The proposed research program fosters new industry-university interaction in the field of materials and manufacturing research and development that produces a specific benefit to the economy of the Province of Ontario and Canada at large.