Application of CFRP Tendons to Novel Connections of Precast Concrete Deck Panels: Experiments and Analytical Models

Carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) tendons are gaining significant interest in the construction industry owing to their high corrosion resistance. Full-depth precast concrete deck panels (PCDPs) with connections provide advantages for accelerating the construction of superstructures, such as minimizing traffic interruption and improving construction quality. The influences of the connection configuration on the mechanical properties, convenience of construction, and economic cost of PCDPs are the focus issues to be concerned. The poor durability of connection materials also hinders the practical application of full-depth PCDPs. In this paper, a novel high-performance connection for PCDPs was proposed, taking ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) and CFRP strand as grout material and post-tensioned tendon, respectively. The high-performance connection has high strength and durability. Four-point bending experiments were conducted to investigate the flexural performance of PCDPs with the proposed novel connection, including failure mode, moment–deflection curve, capacity, ductility, and working mechanism. Moreover, the numerical simulations were carried out to evaluate the impacts of parameters on the flexural capacity in Abaqus software. An improved analytical model was put forward to predict the balanced CFRP tendon ratio and flexural capacity of PCDPs. The results show that it is ductile-control for the failure mode of PCDPs with high-performance connections. The flexural capacity is significantly improved with the increased quantity of welded studs, initial tendon stress, concrete strength, and anchorage spacing. The proposed connections could effectively promote the behavior and durability of PCDPs.