Poly-Girder™ - Strengthen and Protect Bridge Infrastructures

Structural Challenges & the Need for Innovation

Natural disasters, human-caused events, material degradation, and chemical attacks cause thousands of deaths and billions in structural damage annually. To address this, Power Polymer Solutions developed the C-IDA Poly-Girder system—a chemically engineered solution to reinforce and retrofit aging or damaged infrastructure.

PowerPolymer Solutions: Key Benefits

The Poly-Girder system can be applied to existing structures or used as a stand-alone energy-absorbing solution. It offers:

• Easy application
• Compatibility with any material or shape
• High impact resistance and energy dissipation
• Exceptional fracture toughness
• Ideal for both rehabilitation and new construction
• Proven durability under extreme conditions
• Self-healing properties with zero maintenance
• Protection against surge and surface waves

Bridge Applications

• Coastal & Seismic Zones
• Poly-Girder is specifically designed to reinforce girder-to-cap connections in:
• Coastal bridges exposed to hurricanes
• Bridges and buildings in high seismic regions
• Performance Enhancements
• Increases ductility by 50%
• Boosts strength by 100%

Retrofitting Concrete-Encased Steel Girders

• Post-Failure Recovery
• Retrofitted girders subjected to four-point bending after catastrophic failure retained over 68% of their peak strength. Damage included:
• Crushing of mid-span compression zones
• Fracturing of 50% of the steel web depth
• These girders were repaired using PowerPolymer technology.

Comparative Testing

• PowerPolymer retrofitted girders absorbed shock energy and halted crack propagation.
• CFRP retrofitted girders failed immediately upon reaching peak strength.
• PowerPolymer retrofitted girders achieved 3× the displacement of CFRP counterparts.
• No de-bonding observed during maximum deflection tests.

Hurricane Katrina Case Study

Without Poly-Girder Protection:

• The I-10 Bayway bridge across Mobile Bay failed catastrophically at the girder-to-cap beam connection after less than one cycle of wave force during Hurricane Katrina.

With Poly-Girder Protection:

• The same connection, retrofitted with Poly-Girder, withstood 12 cycles of Katrina-level dynamic forces—remaining fully operational and serviceable.

Poly-Girder Testing Library

Includes visual documentation of:

• Severe seismic damage to concrete-encased steel specimens
• Maximum deflection of C-IDA-retrofitted girders
• Load vs. mid-span deflection comparisons between C-IDA and CFRP systems