Gregory Lucier

FRP Shear Transfer Mechanism for Precast, Prestressed Concrete Sandwich Load-Bearing Panels

Synopsis: This paper describes the structural behavior of precast prestressed concrete sandwich wall panels reinforced with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) shear grid to achieve composite action. The study included testing of six full-scale sandwich wall panels, each measuring 20 ft (6.1 m) by 12 ft (3.7 m). The panels consisted of two outer prestressed concrete wythes and an inner foam core. The study included two types of foams and several shear transfer mechanisms with different CFRP reinforcement ratios to examine the degree of composite action developed between the two concrete wythes. All wall panels were simultaneously subjected to applied gravity and lateral loads. The paper also presents a general methodology to determine the behavior of fully and partial composite wall panels. The effects of imperfect connection between the two concrete wythes are considered by varying the total shear force transmitted through the shear connectors at the interface. The shear flow capacity of the insulating materials as well as the CFRP shear grid is determined using the proposed approach. The influence of the degree of the composite interaction on the induced curvature and slip-strain behavior is presented. A simple design chart for estimating the flexural capacity of the wall panels with different shear reinforcement ratios is proposed.

Innovative Use of FRP for the Precast Concrete Industry

This paper presents several advancements in the use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials for the precast concrete industry. Precast concrete members are commonly selected for reasons such as the high level of quality control used in their production, the durability of the finished structure, reduced labor costs and shorter construction schedules, and the economics of scale achieved with mass-production of components. The environmental durability, high strength to weight ratio, and ease of installation of FRP reinforcements an attractive alternative material for the precast industry. This paper presents several advancements in the use of FRP grid as flange reinforcement for precast double-tee members, as a shear transfer mechanism for thermally efficient composite and partially-composite load bearing wall panels, as reinforcement for precast architectural cladding panels. Each of these applications highlights the advantages of using FRP materials to achieve significant enhancement of the structural, thermal and architectural performance. The innovative use of the FRP materials and the unique construction techniques described have resulted in the development of safe and functional structures, as demonstrated by the research conducted by the authors and others in collaboration with the precast industry.

Distributed Fiber Optic Strain Measurement Using Rayleigh Scatter in Composite Structures

This paper presents the use of distributed fiber optic sensing to achieve centimeter level resolution strain data along the entire length of a large composite beam. A 6.5 meter long composite beam, designed for use in a corrosive flue gas desulfurization (FGD) unit, was instrumented. A section of optical fiber was embedded into a fiberglass rope, which in turn was embedded into the composite beam during the manufacturing process. The beam was experimentally tested in four-point bending at the North Carolina State University Constructed Facilities Laboratory, and the strain profile along the entire length was measured using the embedded optical fiber. Strains of up to 6500 microstrain were measured at over 300 unique positions along the span by monitoring changes in the spectral shift of the Rayleigh scatter in the optical fiber using optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR). The fiber used in this test was optically equivalent to standard telecommunication fiber, allowing for low-cost, high-density strain measurements on large structures. The experiment confirms the potential of embedded fiber optic distributed sensing to be used for real-time health monitoring, or as a process feedback in an instrumented structural system. Benefits of employing distributed fiber optic sensing in structures such as the composite FGD unit include the ability to monitor and detect deterioration and damage, minimize the chance of unplanned downtime or failure, and limit exposure to consequences such as environmental contamination.

Behavior of Concrete Bridge Decks Reinforced with MMFX Steel

Corrosion of steel reinforcement is considered to be one of the leading causes of deterioration of concrete bridges. This fact has led to the development of numerous technologies such as corrosionresistant steel that attempt to mitigate this expensive problem. The recent development of highstrength, high corrosion-resistant steel, commercially known as Micro-composite Multi-Structural Formable (MMFX) steel, is a promising technology. MMFX steel offers its high corrosion resistance without the use of the coating technologies. This characteristic was achieved by proprietary alteration of the steel composition and microstructure. In addition, the control of MMFX steel’s morphology of its microstructure has resulted in its higher strength. Use of MMFX steel could lead to potential savings through using less reinforcement ratios due to its higher strength characteristics and longer service life of structures because of its high corrosion resistance. Recently, many state transportation departments have begun to use MMFX steel as a direct replacement for regular Grade 60 steel in concrete bridge decks. However, despite these field applications, there is insufficient information about the behavior of such concrete bridge decks utilizing MMFX steel as main reinforcement. This paper evaluates the use of MMFX steel as main flexural reinforcement in concrete bridge decks in light of test results. Assessment of the effect of the arching action on the strength of bridge decks due to the use of this new steel is also presented.