Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is becoming a
recognized alternative to traditional construction materials in a wide range of
civil engineering applications. An example of such applications is the use of
CFRP cables or bars as prestressing tendons for concrete bridge girders,
especially in aggressive environments where steel prestressing strands are
susceptible to corrosion.
Despite their promise, CFRP prestressing tendons have not frequently been
used for bridge construction in the United States; their use has been hampered
by the lack of recognized design specifications.
NCHRP (National Cooperative Highway Research Program) Research Report 907:
Design of Concrete Bridge Beams Prestressed with CFRP Systems proposes
guidelines and presents research findings that are expected to advance and
facilitate the use of CFRP systems in bridge applications. In addition, five
design examples that illustrate the step-by-step use of the proposed guide
specifications are provided.