IMPROVEMENT OF FATIGUE DURABILITY IN WELDED GUSSET JOINTS BY CARBON FIBER SHEETS USING VaRTM TECHNIQUE

Abstract

This paper deals with the fatigue durability of typical welded gusset joints in steel bridges strengthened by externally bonded carbon fiber (CF) sheets using Vacuum assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VaRTM) technique. The target specimens of welded gusset plates were fabricated and subjected to cyclic load. The fatigue tests of two types of specimens, non-strengthened and strengthened specimen with CF sheets using VaRTM technique, have been conducted in the parameter of nominal stress ranges and strengthened effects have been evaluated under applied stress ranges. The result shows that the fatigue durability of welded gusset joints strengthened by CF sheets using VaRTM technique can be remarkably improved.