Performance of Five-Span Steel Bridge with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Deck Panels

To better understand the performance of bridges with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite decks, the short-term and long-term responses of a 207-m, five-span bridge retrofitted with four different FRP panel systems were monitored through controlled truck load and modal tests at various stages and through long-term monitoring of key load-transfer mechanisms and panel responses. The overall aspects of the panel systems, connection details, construction techniques, and experimental program are presented followed by presentation of the measured responses. Key design issues (impact factors, girder distribution factors, level of composite action, and overall structural stiffness) for FRP and reinforced concrete decks are evaluated and compared against published design provisions. Performance of panel-to-panel connections and panel-to-girder connections is also discussed.