Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

Corrosion of steel reinforcement due to environmental effects is a major cause of deterioration problems inx000D
bridge barriers. A newly-developed reinforcing bars made of glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) not onlyx000D
addresses this durability problem but also provides exceptionally high tensile strength. B&B FRPx000D
Manufacturing Inc. developed GFRP bars, designated as "MST-BAR", as a replacement to the traditionalx000D
reinforcing steel bars found in a wide variety of infrastructure applications. Since GFRP bar production isx000D
proprietary and the development of economically competitive alternatives is warranted, GFRP manufacturersx000D
have to go through experimental trial and error to reach the best design to meet code requirements. Since B&Bx000D
FRP Manufacturing Inc. is looking for applications of these bars in bridges and structures for marketing, thex000D
proposed research is intended to develop performance-based design of bridge barriers incorporating thex000D
developed straight and bent MST-BAR through experimental trial and error due to lack of reliable informationx000D
in design codes. The first part of this research deals with conducting pull-out tests on the developed straightx000D
and headed-end bars to determine their pull-out capacity that will then be used to determine the required barx000D
spacing in the barrier wall. The second part of this research will include testing to-collapse selected actual-sizex000D
barrier-deck slab geometries to determine their ultimate load carrying capacities and failure modes. Costx000D
analysis will be conducted to assist the company on the next step of market readiness. The research outcome isx000D
expected to advance the state-of-practice on the use of rust-free GFRP bars in eliminating maintenance ofx000D
bridge superstructures that results from the use of deicing salts in the winter times. The proposed researchx000D
program fosters new industry-university interaction in the field of materials and manufacturing research andx000D
development that produces a specific benefit to the economy of Canada.