NCC completed its first formal inspection of eight Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bridge decks installed under the organization’s Project 100 in June 2002. The inspection revealed that the wearing surface of the composite bridge decks was in excellent condition. The FRP deck attachments were also in good condition and working properly. In a few cases, gaps were found between the composite deck and the concrete abutments. This occurred as a result of concrete being poured prior to the installation of the composite deck. Engineers found that when pouring the concrete first, it was difficult to judge the height needed to make contact with the bridge deck. NCC has assisted the counties in making repairs by providing fiberglass shims to fill the gaps.
NCC has also begun a performance monitoring and inspection effort. Substantial monitoring equipment was included on the Fairgrounds Road bridge deck installed in April 2002. Monitoring data will provide more proof that FRP decks are a viable product and contribute valuable durability information that bridge owners and designers want to see. NCC is also monitoring a composite bridge deck installed in October 2001 in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base’s Huffman Historical Park.
NCC is studying deflection, strain and load transfers on the Fairgrounds Road and Hebble Creek bridge decks and will monitor all future deck installations. While partnering with companies like MMC and WebCore is helping to build a supplier base in Ohio, NCC’s monitoring services are contributing an ongoing effort to build a database of standardized information for local and state transportation engineers.
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