Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) bridge systems have become popular amongst bridge engineers due to their lightweight and high durability. While FRP bridge systems possess many advantages over traditional bridge systems, linear behaviour followed by brittle failures and other failures such as delamination and plate buckling have hindered the uptake of the FRP bridge systems. High capacity reduction factors used in design have resulted in increased costs and embodied energy. This paper presents the development of a lightweight hybrid concrete-FRP bridge girder which is capable of providing nonlinear load-deformation behaviour and avoiding delamination and plate buckling failures.

Paper 323