BACKGROUND: Use of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) for prestressing of concrete bridge girders has gained some acceptance in the United States because of its potential for eliminating concerns associated with corrosion of prestressing steel and its other technical benefits. Limited research has shown the viability of CFRP as an alternative to prestressing steel in bridge girders.CFRP systems have had limited application in bridge construction because of the lack of a nationally accepted design specification. Research is needed to review available information and develop a proposed guide specification, in AASHTO LRFD format, for the design of concrete beams prestressed with CFRP systems for bridge applications. This specification will help highway agencies consider CFRP systems among the options for prestressed concrete bridge beams.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a proposed guide specification, in AASHTO LRFD format, for the design of concrete beams prestressed with CFRP systems for bridge applications. The research should address both pretensioning and posttensioning applications.
