Repair and strengthening of RC flat slab bridges using CFRPs

This paper reports on experimental investigations made of the performance of two separate CFRP based repair/strengthening schemes (a laminate strip scheme and a fabric system) adopted on two 40% scale model flat slab bridges. The models contained typical features of a large class of multi-span RC flat slab bridges with cantilever ends commonly found in the State of Victoria, Australia, that are now over 60 years old. The models had been previously tested to incipient collapse conditions under the critical design load case so were severely damaged prior to repair/strengthening. The performance was gauged using dynamic testing (experimental modal analysis) and static testing, again to incipient collapse. Both of the repair/strengthening systems were found to perform satisfactorily, suggesting that either could be used as a viable remedial strengthening strategy for this class of bridge structure.