CHAPTER 6
 SPUN CAST CONCRETE PILES WITH CFRP GRID AND BARS

 Introduction

 The spun cast method is commonly used to produce prestressed concrete poles for

power lines or stadium lighting. They are produced by placing the concrete in a mold,

sealing the mold and then spinning it at high speed for a specific amount of time. The

centrifugal force evenly distributes the concrete across the length of the pole while at the

same time the concrete is well compacted. The spinning process also forces some of the

water out of the concrete and as a result the poles produced have a higher concrete

strength and less permeability than regular cast concrete poles.

 Spun casting is a technology that is readily available and could potentially provide

a viable manufacturing option for constructing round piles for use in highway bridge

construction. CFRP reinforcement could be used in place of the usual prestressing steel in

piles that are destined for highly corrosive environments such as coastal bridges. Spun

cast piles are usually produced in a tapered and hollow configuration, but if the method is

proven then prismatic shapes can be produced as well.

 In this chapter the manufacturing details of the CFRP reinforced spun-cast piles are

presented as well as testing details for the four-point flexural tests. The results from the

flexural tests are presented and discussed. The available data indicate no significant

improvement in the ductility of the sections and an improvement in the capacity of

approximately 8%.