Processing and performance of bridge deck subcomponents using two schemes of resin infusion

Due to their lightweight, ease of installation in the field, and potential life-cycle durability, fiber reinforced composites are increasingly being c onsidered in applications such as replacement bridge decks. However, curren t costs associated with the fabrication of such decks are 4-5 times that of conventional reinforced concrete decks thus placing great importance on th e development of cost-effective processes such as resin infusion. This pape r describes results of a test program aimed at the assessment of two differ ent resin infusion schemes for the fabrication of foam core filled truss-ty pe bridge decks. Model flow studies and simple analytical procedures are us ed to assess flow phenomena. The results of process and performance compari sons show that although the use of a microgroove network can be more effici ent than the use of a high-permeable medium, in terms of rate of infusion, and global structural performance may be comparable, there is a greater lik elihood of defect formation. Process induced defect formation is different in the two schemes with the former having a higher susceptibility for local ized effects. Defect types are identified, and comparisons of performance a re made at both a local and global level. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al l rights reserved.