Development of Mechanical Strengthening System for Bridge Connections Using Prestressed CFRP Rods

Stringer-to-floor beam web-to-web double-angle connections are among the most fatigue-prone elements in old riveted bridges. These connections are often designed to carry only shear loads. However, in these elements, fatigue damage occurs because of the out-of-plane deformation of the connections, which is ignored in the original design. In this study, a new retrofitting system is developed to reduce the out-of-plane deformation of the...