Design and Development of High-Performance Composites for Improved Durability of Bridges in Rhode Island (2.17)

Accelerated degradation of concrete/ steel elements on bridges has been a major cause of concern in Rhode Island and other northeastern states due to harsh winters, a significant number of freeze-thaw cycles and the use of deicing salts. In this project, innovative durable 3D-printed composites materials will be designed and developed for repair/strengthening of degraded concrete/steel components on bridges toward enhanced durability and service life. Thus, this proposal will forward various innovative viable strategies for performance enhancing retrofitting and rehabilitation of existing degraded structures such as the use of adhesively-bonded sandwiched composite plates with 3D-printed auxetic cores, high performance fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) wrappings around columns enabled via 3D printed architectures and multifunctional FRP laminates for strengthening of decks. These modern design strategies will be developed and evaluated through a coordinated set of sophisticated experiments at multiple length scales and validated models and predictive tools. The evaluation of engineering performance descriptors and the development of validated prediction models and design optimization strategies that relate to the features of the hierarchical structure of the composite materials at multiple length scales are expected to be significant scientific steps that are vital in ensuring the practical adoption and constructability of these 3D printed composites. Overall, it is anticipated that the outcome of this comprehensive project has the potential to define a new paradigm in designing and evaluating 3D printed composites that belong to the next generation of truly high-performance construction materials. The breadth of collaborations between URI-RIDOT-Goetz Composites and associated expertise will potentially generate significant new knowledge which will enable intelligent, informed decision-making regarding the selection of composites for bridges in the northeastern states for enhanced durability.

• Record URL:
  https://tidc.umaine.edu/tidc_project/2-17-uri/

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $320613
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551847101

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center

  University of Maine
  Orono, ME  United States  04469

  University of Rhode Island, Kingston

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Kingston, RI  United States  02881

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Goetz Composites

  52 Ballou Blvd
  Bristol, Rhode Island  United States  02809

  401 Tech Bridge

  1170 East Main Road
  Portsmouth, Rhode Island  United States  02871
• Managing Organizations:

  Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center

  University of Maine
  Orono, ME  United States  04469

  University of Rhode Island, Kingston

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Kingston, RI  United States  02881

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Dunn, Denise

• Performing Organizations:

  Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center

  University of Maine
  Orono, ME  United States  04469

  University of Rhode Island, Kingston

  College of Engineering
  Kingston, RI  United States  02881
• Principal Investigators:

  Das, Sumanta

  Gindy, Mayrai

• Start Date: 20210715
• Expected Completion Date: 20250520
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Composite materials; Fiber reinforced polymers; Freeze thaw durability; High performance concrete; Structural strengthening
• Identifier Terms: Degradation Index
• Geographic Terms: Rhode Island
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01851274
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551847101
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 14 2022 10:30AM