On the costly-effective application of FRP sheets to masonry arch railway bridge strengthening

This paper studies the minimum-cost strengthening of masonry arch railway bridges through optimal attachment of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) sheets together with jacketing by reinforced concrete and shotcrete measures. For this aim, the Sahand-Goltappeh bridge, as a case study, is studied subjected to ordinary train pass. Finally, the strengthening cost is minimized pursuing following goals: i) the bridge s load-carrying-capacity is increased; and, ii) the response values of the bridge are reduced to a certain limit. The strengthening cost is estimated based on Iranian prices list for railway construction services. The results show that strengthening costs can be reduced by optimal utilization of FRPs.

Keywords:

FRP sheet , cost minimization , bridge strengthening.