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    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Applications of Elastomeric Polymers
for Accelerated Bridge Construction
and Retrofit</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1692558</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Elastomeric polymers such as polyurea and polyurethane are nonlinear elastic materials with
high tensile strength and strain capacity, adhesiveness, and resistance to permeability and
environmental conditions. They have been used commercially as waterproofing and anti-blast
coating for reinforced concrete components. While the elastomeric polymer is an interesting
material with unique characteristics, there has been limited research on its potential structural
applications. A number of research studies have shown the remarkable increase in flexural and
shear strength of polyurea coated reinforced concrete beams. Further research is needed to
explore the application of polyurea coating system as a new structural material in the bridge
industry.
This proposal takes the first step of a long-term research vision to examine and investigate the
innovative applications of elastomeric polymers and specifically polyurea coating in accelerated
bridge construction. The focus of this proposal is on the application of elastomeric polymer
coatings for design and retrofit of side bridge girders. There are three aspects that can be
considered for this application: (i) enhancing the flexural and shear strength of the beam through
the application of a spray coating, (ii) enhancing the weather resistivity, which is especially
important for side beams, and most importantly, (iii) overheight vehicle collision impact
resistance. This proposal only focuses on the flexural and shear strength of polyurea coated RC
beams. This simple step is taken to start gaining experience and knowledge on this relatively new
material, and incrementally examine other aspects of the applications and other potential
applications through future proposals and other funding opportunities. The research team plans for an
experimental-analytical research effort, to develop simple phenomenological material models for
the polyurea coating system and to investigate the potential cost vs. benefit of the coating in
design and retrofit of side girders.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2020 15:15:15 GMT</pubDate>
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