Deterioration of concrete bridges caused by corrosion of reinforcing steel is one of the major challenges facing the transportation industry today. Bridge owners and consulting firms are seeking affordable construction materials and innovative approaches and systems that enhance the life expectancy and reduce the maintenance costs of bridges. Thus, over the past decade, there has been a rapid increase in the use of innovative corrosion-resistant fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials for reinforcing, strengthening, and rehabilitating concrete structures, particularly bridges, due to their enhanced properties and cost-effectiveness. FRP reinforcement has been widely used in various transportation infrastructures, including bridges, parking garages, tunnels, and marine structures, where the corrosion of steel has typically led to significant deterioration, thereby necessitating rehabilitation. Significant developments by FRP manufacturers, researchers, and design codes, along with numerous successful installations, have led to a much higher comfort level and exponential use of FRP products by designers and owners. After years of investigation and implementation, bridge owners in North America have incorporated GFRP as a premium, corrosion-resistant reinforcing material into their specifications for corrosion protection. Currently, the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code and the AASHTO-LRFD Bridge Design Specifications include provisions for the design of concrete bridge members reinforced with FRP bars and sheets. Strengthening and rehabilitation of bridges are necessary for various reasons, including deterioration caused by environmental factors, increased traffic volume and load, or deficiencies in the original design or construction. Bridge owners must stay current with the latest techniques available for repairing or strengthening bridge infrastructure. This course will provide excellent exposure to the design and application of FRP reinforcement in the rehabilitation and strengthening of existing concrete and steel bridges.

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Attendees of this short course will receive an electronic copy of:

     ISIS Manual No. 3 (Version 2) – Reinforcing Concrete Structures with Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRPs)

     ISIS Manual No. 4 – FRP Rehabilitation of Reinforced Concrete Structures

     ISIS Manual No. 5 – Prestressing Concrete Structures with FRPs

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Thanks to the Structural Innovation and Monitoring Technologies Resources Center – SIMTReC (formerly known as ISIS Canada Resource Centre) for supplying the ISIS Manual.