Although there have been some studies on evaluating the corrosion rates of FRP-wrapped columns these deal with mostly laboratory work, and there are no studies that take field applied CFRP wrapped circular columns and test them in the manner that is proposed.

Determine the condition of carbon FRP concrete columns wrapped and exposed to field conditions for 8 years. Determination of concrete, steel, and carbon FRP properties and evaluation of strength of the retrofitted columns.

#1 Determination of corrosion progression on the steel bars of the columns (or non-progression if the corrosion has stopped). There is documentation of the before (2000) condition and after (2007-2008). #2 Determination of the concrete quality in terms of chloride detection and penetration. #3 Comparison of the properties of the Carbon FRP (CFRP) composite with control specimens that have been stored in the University of Utah lab for 7 years. This involves Scanning Electron Microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analyses, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry to determine the glass transition temperature and other properties for the lab and bridge CFRP composite samples. #4 Destructive testing of the two columns for (a) axial load up to 2,000,000 pounds, (b) axial load with bending moment. The columns will be longer than 10 ft and the ends will be used to do tasks #1 - #3 with the pieces that will be cut off the ends.

Suggested minimum commitment: S30,000.