CEE Prof Helps Develop FRP Composite Bridge Specifications

Civil and Environmental Engineering professor Dr. Hota GangaRao is currently working on new specifications for utilizing Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites for vehicular bridges.

GangaRao is working with professor Dr. Zureick of Georgia Tech on the specifications, and both serve as principal investigators for the project under the Federal Highway Administration.


Utilizing FRP in bridge design has its benefits, GangaRao said. For example, FRP is a non-corrosive design material that is also non-conductive. FRP bridges also weigh four times less than steel bridges, offering up to almost twice the strength of steel structures.

“Once the specifications are approved, and designers are designing, and constructers begin to construct, we can enhance load capabilities (“posting”) through retrofit.

“We are hoping to have the specifications approved in August of next year,” GangaRao added.

10/19/2007