Carbon Fiber Bridge Pier Cap Strengthening in Jasper, Indiana

When Dubois County engineers identified cracking and insufficient reinforcement in the pier caps of a bridge over the Patoka River, a durable and non-invasive strengthening solution was required. LAN Construction, already experienced with CFRP across various infrastructure projects, collaborated with Structural Reinforcement Solutions to design a permanent repair strategy using carbon fiber.

A detailed structural evaluation revealed that the original horizontal steel lacked the necessary lap lengths to carry the cantilevered loads, putting the pier caps at risk. SRS engineered a full-encapsulation CFRP system using SRS-600UNI and SRS-660BI carbon fiber to reinforce the pier caps and restore the required capacity. Witness panels were created and tested throughout installation to verify system strength and compliance with Indiana PE-stamped design requirements.

To protect the CFRP from long-term UV exposure and environmental conditions, a specialized UV-inhibiting epoxy system was applied, followed by an elastomeric coating for additional durability. The completed installation delivered a permanent, high-strength repair solution—helping the county extend the life of the bridge and preserve a critical piece of local infrastructure.