Field and laboratory performance of bridge columns repaired with wrapped glass-fibre-reinforced-polymer sheets

Several bridge columns, in which concrete was delaminated as a result of steel corrosion, were repaired in the mid 1990s. Different types of grout, including one based on expansive cement, were used to rebuild the damaged columns to their original shape; the columns were then wrapped with glass-fibre-reinforced polymers (GFRPs). The associated lab study indicated that the observed damage caused a reduction of about 20% in the axial-load-carrying capacity of the columns and much larger reductions in ductility and energy-dissipating capacity. The experimental results also showed that the strength and ductility of the columns could be recovered by repairing them with GFRP. Long-term monitoring of three columns repaired in the field using GFRP has indicated their excellent performance. No deterioration has been observed in the fibre-reinforced polymer or in the columns in more than 10 years. Monitoring has also shown a reduction in the rate and associated risk of corrosion over time; thus, this is a more durable retrofitting technique than traditional ones, such as steel jacketing.Key words: concrete, columns, corrosion, cyclic loading, ductility, expansive cement, glass-fibre-reinforced polymers, monitoring, repair, strength.