1 AN OVERVIEW OF COMPOSITES USAGE IN BRIDGE FACILITIES IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, USA

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) technology continues to make strides in both new construction applications and strengthening applications of structurally deficient bridges in the United States primarily due to its corrosion resistance, high strength to weight ratio and in many cases rapid installation processes. This paper provides an overview of composites usage over the past decade in the State of Missouri, USA. This includes new construction applications including internally reinforced FRP-RC bridges as well as fully composite bridges. Externally strengthening applications of structurally deficient bridges is also discussed using techniques such as manual wet lay-up systems, procured plate and strip systems, near surface mounted (NSM) systems, and mechanically fastened (MF) systems. Validation of long-term durability performance and the comprehensive development of inspection criteria/guidelines are needed before FRP systems will gain widespread acceptance throughout the engineering and civil infrastructure community. Therefore, many of the Missouri demonstration projects have included on-going monitoring and load testing to validate these systems and demonstrate their long-term durability performance