Congrès annuel 2008 de la SCGC CSCE 2008 Annual Conference Québec, QC 10 au 13 juin 2008 / June 10-13, 2008 1 TESTING OF CONCRETE BRIDGE BARRIERS REINFORCED WITH NEW GLASS FRP BARS S. El-Gamal 1 , B. Benmokrane 2 , S. Goulet 3 1 University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada 2 NSERC Research Chair Professor in Innovative FRP Composite Materials for Infrastructures, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada 3 Engineer. Structures Division. Ministry of Transport of Quebec, Quebec City, QC, Canada Abstract : This article presents the results of a pendulum impact test carried out on full-scale types PL-2 and PL-3 concrete bridge barriers reinforced with a new type of glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. For comparison purpose, the test was similar to other tests carried out in 2001 at University of Sherbrooke (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) on similar barriers reinforced with an old type of GFRP or steel bars. A total of two full-scale 10-m-long barrier prototypes were constructed and tested. The tests included one PL-2 and one PL-3 prototypes. Pendulum crash tests using a 3.0-t pear-shaped iron ball were performed for the two barriers. The behaviour of the barriers was evaluated in terms of cracking pattern, crack width, and strains in reinforcing bars. The results of this investigation led to the conclusion that the behaviour of the concrete bridge barriers reinforced with the new GFRP bars is similar to their counterparts reinforced with the old GFRP bars or conventional steel. 1. INTRODUCTION The corrosion of steel reinforcement has become a serious concern in Canada and all over the world. The use of corrosion-free fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) bars as an alternative to steel is considered an effective solution to the corrosion problems. Reinforced concrete bridge barriers are subjected to very aggressive environmental conditions, in addition to impact and dynamic loads which they have to resist (El-Salakawy et al. 2004). The current version of the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CAN/CSA-S6-06) is allowing the use of GFRP bent bars in reinforcing the concrete barriers (types PL-2 and PL-3) including the connection between the slab and the barrier wall. This was based on pendulum impact tests carried out in 2001 (in Sherbrooke, Quebec) on full-scale types PL-2 and PL-3 barriers reinforced with glass FRP bars. The test is described by El-Salakawy et al. (2001 and 2004). According to the commentary of the CAN/CSA-S6- 06, for the given design of PL-2 and PL-3 barriers, the guaranteed tensile strength at the bent, according to the test method B.12 (ACI 440.3R-04), shall not be less than 400 MPa. The guaranteed tensile strength of the straight portion of the bent GFRP bars shall not be less than 650 MPa (CAN/CSA-S6-06- Commentary). The available GFRP bent bars in the market that satisfying the 400 MPa limit at the bent are expensive and may not be available in the near future. However, a new and cheaper GFRP bent bars with lower guaranteed tensile strength at the bent are available. Using this new type of GFRP bars will result in decreasing the cost of the concrete bridge barriers reinforced with FRP bars, consequently saving a lot of money. However, it is essential to investigate the performance of concrete bridge barriers reinforced with these new GFRP bent bars before using them in the field. As a result, an extensive