Design of Concrete Railing Reinforced with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bars

The use of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) reinforcement is a practical alternative to conventional steel rebars in concrete structures subjected to aggressive environments. The solution is attractive for bridge deck and rail applications, as it eliminates corrosion of the steel reinforcement, which is the major instrument of degradation. Due to the peculiar physical and mechanical characteristics of advanced composite materials, the design philosophy of FRP reinforced concrete (RC) structures differs from that of traditional RC. This paper introduces a systematic approach adopted for the structural and functional design of an open-post bridge railing reinforced with Glass FRP bars (GFRP) as compared to steel RC counterparts, according to the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. Design examples, accounting for different gap opening length and rail beam reinforcement, and based on the experimental static response of full-scale post/deck connections, are finally presented and discussed.