Performance verification of a new pultruded GFRP bridge deck-to-girder connection system

There are various ways to connect the GFRP deck and girder which have been adopted as systems worldwide: including the use of a shear connector, and mechanical connection systems that utilize bolts or clamps. Recently, there have been studies on the systems to connect the GFRP deck and steel girder using a bonding agent. This paper proposes a new connection system, which is different from the GFRP deck-to-girder connection system that has been applied so far. In addition to evaluate the structural performance of the proposed connection system, it is compared with the bolted mechanical connection system via testing and FEM analysis under the same conditions. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.