In-service performance monitoring of a CFRP reinforced HPC bridge deck.

Sipple, Jesse; Bell, Erin Santini · 2010 · ROSA P / New Hampshire. Dept. of Transportation

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Summary

This report details the in-service performance monitoring and structural health assessment of the Rollins Road Bridge in New Hampshire, a structure notable for being the first in the United States to utilize a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforced high-performance concrete (HPC) deck. The research was motivated by the urgent need for objective bridge condition assessment following the 2007 I-35W bridge collapse and the limitations of traditional visual inspections. The study aims to validate the long-term performance of innovative materials like CFRP, which eliminates corrosion risks associated with steel reinforcement, and to demonstrate how structural modeling can be updated using field data to support asset management and decision-making. The methodology involved the analysis of data from over 50 operational temperature and strain gauges originally installed during the bridge’s construction in 2000. The researchers conducted nondestructive load tests, specifically focusing on an April 2008 test using a sand truck to apply controlled dynamic loads. To ensure data accuracy, the study implemented rigorous data quality assurance protocols, including data-to-data comparisons across multiple years and the development of techniques to remove environmental effects, such as thermal strain, from the raw sensor readings. Both conventional and empirical thermal correction methods were evaluated to isolate load-induced structural responses. A central component of the study was the creation and updating of a finite element structural model using SAP2000® software. The model incorporated specific details of the bridge’s components, including the CFRP-reinforced deck, prestressed New England Bulb Tee girders, and steel-reinforced elastomeric bearing pads. The researchers performed manual model updating by adjusting parameters, such as bearing pad stiffness, to reconcile the analytical model with the measured field data. The results demonstrated that the structural model could be successfully updated to match the measured strain and deflection responses from the load tests. The empirical environmental correction techniques proved effective in isolating load effects, and the updated model provided an accurate representation of the bridge’s structural behavior. The significance of this work lies in its demonstration that structural health monitoring (SHM) data can be effectively used to update analytical models, providing bridge owners with objective, up-to-date insights into structural health. This approach offers a more reliable alternative to visual inspections for assessing load capacity and deterioration. The findings support the viability of CFRP reinforcement as a durable alternative to steel and provide a framework for integrating SHM into routine bridge management practices. By validating the bridge’s performance and refining the analytical modeling process, the study contributes to improved asset management strategies and enhances the safety assessment of innovative bridge structures.

Key finding

The structural model was successfully updated to accurately match the measured structural response obtained from nondestructive load tests on the bridge.

Methodology

field_study

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed. Discovered via bulk_ingest_rosap on 2026-05-23 (6 acquisition events logged).

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• dms validation