Experimental Study and Mixed-Dimensional FE Analysis of T-Rib GFRP Plate-Concrete Composite Bridge Decks

Abstract

In order to extend the understanding of structural performance of a T-rib glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) plate-concrete composite bridge deck, four GFRP plate-concrete composite bridge decks were tested, which consist of cast-in-place concrete sitting on a GFRP plate with T-ribs. Subsequently, a mixed-dimensional finite element (FE) analysis model was proposed to simulate the behavior of the test models. The test and simulation results showed that the composite specimens had an excellent interface bonding performance between GFRP plate and concrete throughout flexural response until specimens failure occurred. The failure mode of those composite specimens was shear failure in concrete structures. It was found that the interface roughness of the GFRP plate could not affect the ultimate bearing capacity and stiffness of composite specimens significantly. However, the height of concrete structures had a strong effect on those structural behaviors. In addition, the longitudinal compressive reinforcing CFRP rebars had a little influence on ultimate bearing capacity of composite specimens, while it had a significant influence on ductility of composite specimens. The mixed-dimensional FE analysis model can accurately simulate the local complex stress state of GFRP plates, ultimate loads, stiffness, and midspan deflections and simultaneously can significantly reduce computational time. Therefore, mixed-dimensional FE analysis can provide a suitable solution to simulate the structural performance of T-rib GFRP plate-concrete composite bridge decks.