FRP splice system for joining structural elements

A method for joining structural two prestressed-precast concrete elements with a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) splice system, the method comprising:

• providing a first prestressed-precast concrete structural element having a first end portion comprising prestressed-precast concrete adjacent a first end face comprising prestressed-precast concrete;
• affixing an FRP member to the prestressed-precast concrete of the first end portion such that a first length of the FRP member runs along a portion of the first end portion and a second length of the FRP member extends beyond the first end portion, and the FRP member covers the majority of at least one side of the first end portion over the first length, the FRP member comprising a first FRP sheet or construct assembled with at least a second FRP sheet or construct, the first length and the second length each respectively being less than a length of the first prestressed-precast concrete structural element;
• and
• affixing a first FRP strip encircling the FRP member and the first end portion at a first offset distance measured along the first end portion from the first end face, the first length being essentially equal to or greater than the first offset distance, thus forming a first prestressed-precast concrete structural element.

A fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) splice system for joining prestressed-precast concrete structural elements, the system comprising:

• a first prestressed-precast concrete structural element having a first end portion comprising prestressed-precast concrete adjacent a first end face comprising prestressed-precast concrete;
• an FRP member affixed to the prestressed-precast concrete of the first end portion;
• a first FRP strip encircling the FRP member and the first end portion at a first offset distance measured along the first end portion from the first end face;
• a second prestressed-precast concrete structural element having a second end portion comprising prestressed-precast concrete adjacent a second end face comprising prestressed-precast concrete, the second end face being positioned opposing the first end face;
• a second FRP strip encircling the FRP member and the second end portion at a second offset distance measured along the second end portion from the second end face, the second FRP strip being on an opposite side of the first end face with respect to the first FRP strip;
• an alignment bar protruded from one of the first end face or the second end face;
• an alignment receptacle recessed within the other of the first end face or the second end face, the alignment receptacle configured to receive the alignment bar when the first end portion is in a desired state of alignment with respect to the second end portion;
• a resin bonding the FRP member to at least one of the first end portion, the second end portion, the first FRP strip, and the second FRP strip;
• and
• a third FRP strip encircling the FRP member, the first end face, and the second end face,
• the FRP member having a first length measured along the first end portion and a second length extending beyond the first end portion,
• the first length being essentially equal to or less than the first offset distance,
• the FRP member covering the majority of at least one side of the first end portion over the first length, and
• the FRP member being:
• a) a first FRP sheet assembled with at least a second FRP sheet to form an FRP sheet splice encircling the end portion;
• or
• b) a first FRP construct assembled with at least a second FRP construct to form an FRP construct splice encircling the end portion.