Maintenance and rehabilitation of concrete highway bridges with CFRP composites

Corrosion of steel reinforcing bars (rebars) in concrete highway bridges is considered the primary limit state, in severe environments. Corrosion of rebars results in reduction of steel section, loss of bond between rebars and concrete, as well as spalling of concrete cover in the vicinity of the corroded rebars. The cost of maintenance of deteriorated concrete bridges in the USA mounts in billions of dollars. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composites have proven to be the material of choice for repair and strengthening of existing concrete structures. However, their use in maintenance of existing bridges has not been efficiently explored. Smart detailing of CFRP composites allows for reduced construction cost and time. In addition, a successful retrofit and protection system for a deteriorated concrete bridge in severe environments must incorporate corrosion protection system, e.g. sacrificial anodes, corrosion inhibiting paints, etc. This paper presents the various types of structural retrofit systems for corroded concrete bridges. These systems include but not limited to the use of CFRP composites for both; cost-effective maintenance and repair of deteriorated bridges, along with corrosion protection systems. Examples of CFRP retrofitted concrete bridges with CFRP composites are presented.