TEST MODEL FOR THE FIRST CANADIAN SMART HIGHWAY BRIDGE

Carbon fiber reinforced plastic tendons (CFRP) were used for the first time in Canada to pretension six girders of a concrete highway bridge , built in the City of Calgary, Alberta. The bridge was constructed us ing 13 T-bulb Section pretensioned precast concrete girders in each sp an. Continuity of the two spans was achieved by using post-tensioned s teel tendons extending along the entire length of the bridge. This pap er summarizes an experimental program conducted to study the behaviour of four pretensioned concrete T-beams of the same span-depth ratio as the bridge girders. The beams were rested to examine the various limi t slate behaviors, ultimate capacities, and failure modes. Two beams w ere tested in static, and two were tested under cyclic loading. After completion of 2 million cycles, the beams were loaded to failure to ev aluate the effect of fatigue loading on the behavior of the beams. Pre dicted values based on the compatibility and equilibrium approach, and measured values, are compared and discussed A ductility model is prop osed for beams prestressed by FRP tendons. Design recommendations,and construction details of concrete beams prestressed by CFRP tendons are presented.