Sustaining Performance of Concrete Bridges Strengthened with FRP-Structural Systems

Sustaining performance of concrete bridges under an array of environmental and traffic loading conditions is a wide ranging issue confronting bridge owners. Applying fiber-reinforced-polymer(FRP) structural systems to concrete bridges is an effective method to repair and sustain concrete bridge loading performance. This paper presents results of a bridge project in the Republic of Macedonia where 19 concrete bridges were repaired and strengthened with FRP-structural systems to increase bridge loading capacity. Discussing project background, structural analysis, design, and FRP application, issues on sustaining the designed performance of the applied FRP composite material to the concrete bridges are presented. Recommendations for sustaining the performance of the FRP-concrete bridge structural system are made.