Construction Considerations for Repair of Bridges with Externally Bonded Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Material

A recent advancement in the field of structural rehabilitation consists of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites used to strengthen structural elements. Since a significant portion of the infrastructure in North America is in need of a rapidly applied strengthening and rehabilitation solution, much interest in this method has developed. FRP systems provide the advantage of increasing ductility and shear and flexural strength, whereas they are lightweight and can be applied relatively quickly and easily. Guidelines that the engineer can use to recommend construction specifications involved in FRP applications are provided. The results are based on numerous field applications and will help provide an efficient and proper repair method.