Jianwei Li, Wentao Xu
This paper proposes a novel bridge reinforcement method—steel mesh reinforced polymer concrete (SMPC)—building upon the mature steel mesh reinforced polymer mortar (SMPM) technology. By leveraging the superior corrosion resistance and tensile properties of steel mesh, combined with the strong adhesion and rapid curing characteristics of polymer concrete, this composite material system offers significant advantages in bridge reinforcement applications, including reduced construction time and lower project costs. To validate the feasibility of this method, uniaxial tensile tests were conducted on SMPC dumbbell specimens. The experimental investigation examined key variables affecting tensile performance, including specimen width, thickness, resin-to-powder ratio, and curing time. Based on the obtained stress-strain relationships under different test conditions, a constitutive model for SMPM under uniaxial tension was established. The tensile strength demonstrates a marked improvement from 45.1 MPa (1-layer specimen) to 51.3 MPa (4-layer specimen). Notably, variations in specimen width and steel strand reinforcement ratio exhibit minimal impact on the ultimate tensile strain of SMPC. Regarding adhesive-to-powder ratio effects, specimens with a 0.8:1 ratio demonstrate superior tensile strength compared to those with a 1:0.8 ratio. At equivalent steel mesh layers, the 0.8:1 ratio group achieves 53.2 MPa, representing an 18.5% enhancement over the 44.9 MPa observed in the 1:0.8 ratio group. The results demonstrate that SMPC exhibits excellent early-strength properties, where increasing the resin-to-powder ratio enhances material ductility, while higher reinforcement ratios improve the composite's tensile strength. Received: 15.08.2024 Received in revised form: 14.05.2026 Accepted: 19.05.2026