Task 180, FY 2004, "Summary of International Practice on Bridge Girder and Deck Strengthening with Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites". Structural deficiency of a large portion of the nation's bridges is well documented. Among the leading causes of this situation are corrosion-induced problems with reinforced and prestressed concrete in harsh environments. A related problem is the functional deficiency of many of the nation's bridges, which is exasperated by increases in size and weight of vehicles.

Task 180 was requested by SCOH's Technology Implementation Group (TIG). The funding request identified 5 objectives:

1. To locate and assemble documented information worldwide on the strengthening and repair of bridges with FRP;
2. To gather and report information on construction and performance-related details of FRP bridge decks in North America;
3. To prepare a compilation (concentrating in North America) of initial structural problems;
4. To document the performance and environmental durability of past applications, identify modes of distress, damage and failure; and
5. To identify ongoing research in bridge rehabilitation.

To meet these objectives NCHRP assembled an expert panel comprised of members of the AASHTO Highway Subcommittee on Bridges and Structures, the AASHTO TIG Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems (PBES) Implementation Panel, and TRB Committee AFF80 (A2C07) Structural Fiber Reinforced Plastics.

The project panel identified 2 current NCHRP projects dealing with FRP applications. These projects are:

NCHRP Project 10-59A, "Construction Specifications for Bonded Repair and Retrofit of Concrete Structures Using FRP Composites" is complete. The products are construction specifications and a construction process control manual for bonded FRP repair and retrofit of concrete structures. These documents were developed after a review of international practice. The project report has been published as NCHRP Report 514.

NCHRP Project 10-64, "Field Inspection of In-Service FRP Bridge Decks". The objective of this project is to develop recommended field procedures, evaluation guidelines, and reporting standards for periodic inspection of in-service FRP bridge decks. The interim report contains an assessment of performance data, research findings, and other information to determine the failure modes and serviceability problems of FRP bridge decks.

After reviewing these documents the project panel discussed the objectives of Project 20-07/Task 180 during a conference call on March 11, 2004. The panel consensus is that the objectives of Task 180 are adequately addressed in these reports and further work is unnecessary. The panel decision and copies of the referenced reports have been distributed to the members of the AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridges and Structures, AASHTO TIG Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems (PBES) Implementation Panel, and TRB Committee AFF80 (A2C07) Structural Fiber Reinforced Plastics. This project is complete. (NCHRP Staff: D.B. Beal)