Researchers from Swinburne University have won ARRB’s 2018 Research Impact Award for their work on strengthening bridges with carbon fibre reinforced polymers.

Professor Riadh Al-Mahaidi and Dr Robin Kalfat have developed fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) to extend the life of existing concrete infrastructure through innovative research into:

• Innovative anchorage systems that have achieved a greater degree of strengthening using less material
• New methods for shear and torsion retrofitting of box girder bridges using FRP techniques
• The use of near-surface mounted FRP combined with epoxies and cement-based adhesives to increase the strength of reinforced concrete members in flexure, shear and torsion

“Extending the life of existing infrastructure is important to promote sustainability,”  Al-Mahaidi says. 

Many existing box girder bridges are being retrofitted with fibre composite materials to achieve greater flexural, shear and torsional strength and to increase their long term sustainability.

“The technology we developed has been used in the West Gate Bridge widening project and also on the M80 Western Ring Road upgrade, saving both time and money.”

Professor Al-Mahaidi and Dr Kalfat’s research has contributed to the development and publication of Australia’s first standard in the use of FRPs to strengthen concrete bridges. They have completed a book titled Rehabilitation of Concrete Structures with Fiber-Reinforced Polymers, to be published in August this year.

Image: Approach spans of the West Gate Bridge strengthened with fibre reinforced polymers.