Load-Carrying Capacity of Corroded Gusset Plate Connection and Its Repair Using CFRP Sheets

Recently, several events involving the corrosion-induced damage of gusset plate connections of steel truss bridges have been reported worldwide. In this study, the remaining load-carrying capacity of a corroded gusset plate connection was evaluated through loading tests and finite element method (FEM) analyses using a model approximately 50% of the size of an actual gusset plate connection. Two potential forms of corrosion, that is, weld and cross-sectional corrosion, on the gusset plate were considered in order to investigate the reduction in the load-carrying capacity. Then, parametric FEM analyses were conducted to determine the effect of the corrosion level on the remaining load-carrying capacity of a specimen model and a full-scale model of an actual connection. The loading tests and parametric FEM analyses indicated that with increases in the dimensions of the corroded sections, the load-carrying capacity of the gusset plate connections exhibited nearly similar linear decreases. Furthermore, the effectiveness of a repair method for the corroded gusset plate connection using carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) sheets was investigated. The loading tests were conducted considering the area, direction, and location of the bonded CFRP sheets. As a result, this study proposed an appropriate repair method using CFRP sheets that could help recover the load-carrying capacity and improve the deformation performance of corroded gusset plate connections. (C) 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Automated summary

Several events involving the corrosion-induced damage of gusset plate connections of steel truss bridges have been reported worldwide recently. This study evaluated the remaining load-carrying capacity of a corroded gusset plate connection through loading tests and finite element method analyses, and proposed a repair method using carbon fiber-reinforced plastic sheets to recover the load-carrying capacity and improve the deformation performance of corroded connections.