FRP Reinforcement for Concrete: Performance Assessment and New ConstructionVolume III: Construction and Monitoring of the Innovation Bridge

The University of Miami deliberately chose to construct a pedestrian bridge using concrete elements solely reinforced and prestressed with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and sustainability. In addition to showcasing concrete reinforcing bars made of basalt and glass FRP (BFRP and GFRP), the bridge features unique BFRP forms such as continuous close stirrups used in the pier-caps and curbs as well as prefabricated BFRP cages for the auger-cast piles. The main load-carrying members of the bridge are two prestressed concrete girders of double-tee shape (as used in parking garage structures) with shortened flange overhangs. Each girder stem was prestressed with nine carbon FRP (CFRP) strands. Elements of the bridge were instrumented with vibrating-wire gages to monitor performance over time and during two load tests conducted on one of the prestressed concrete girders at the precast yard and on the completed structure, respectively. In addition to strain data, deflection measurements obtained during and after construction show field performance of the bridge to be in accordance with the predicted behavior.