Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2002

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Committee Chair

Karl E. Barth

Committee Co-Chair

Julio F. Davalos

Abstract

The focus of this study is to develop an efficient connection to attach FRP bridge decks to steel girders. A new connection is designed which is versatile, cost-efficient, reliable and easy to install. The performance of this connection is then verified experimentally by a two-phase testing program. The first phase is concerned with individual component testing using modified push-out tests. The second phase is directed to implementing the connection in a reduced-scale bridge to evaluate the connection's system-level performance. Results of the experimental testing program are discussed. In addition, a finite element model of the reduced-scale bridge is formulated and comparisons between the experimental and numerical results are presented.

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