Pioneering Strengthening of Concrete Bridge Girders with Pretensioned CFRP Laminates in Poland

The Polish-Swiss TULCOEMPA project between the Lodz University of Technology (TUL, Poland) and EMPA (Switzerland) showed a research collaboration in development of innovative methods for structural strengthening of existing bridge infrastructure and subsequent long-life monitoring using advanced wireless systems. The main aim of the project was a pioneer application of the innovative strengthening system with pretensioned carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates of an existing bridge over the Pilsia River in Szczercowska Wieś (central Poland). The joint team from EMPA and TUL with technical support of S&P Switzerland and S&P Poland carried out the structural strengthening of five existing bridge girders in flexure and shear. The paper describes a full process of bridge reconstruction and strengthening from the surface preparation through girders leveling and finally strengthening with anchorage by the gradient method.