FRP Composites to Retrofit

Concrete Structures
Repair and upgrading of
concrete structures with FRP
materials

What is composite materials ?

Fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) (also fibre-reinforced
polymer) are composite materials made of a polymer matrix
reinforced with fibres. The fibers are usually fiberglass,
carbon, or aramid, while the polymer is usually an epoxy,
vinylester or polyester thermosetting plastic. FRPs are
commonly used in the aerospace, automotive, marine, and
construction industries.
Strengthening and retrofitting is a growing need for infrastructure renewal, as high ways,
bridges and other exposed structures are becoming functional obsolete or deteriorating
with the passage of time under environment loads and an increase in service loads. A part
for time the need to increase load capacity, upgrading of service may be necessitated due
to change in the structural system during the modernization/renovation of buildings,
where the removal of individual supports and walls may lead to a redistribution of forces
or to rectify initial structural deficiency due to design and construction faults. These
infrastructure rehabilitation challenges demand new technologies and new materials. The
strengthening or retrofit of deficient or demand reinforced concrete member by
adhesively bonding of prefabricated strips of thin composite material laminates, also
known as fibre reinforced-polymer (FRP) plates represents the state-of-the art in
rehabilitation techniques and is becoming increasingly popular in the construction
industry. FRP offers excellent properties to available from traditional materials. Its is
light-weight, non-metallic, corrosion resistant and possesses higher strength and stiffness
compared to steel. An ease of handling and application gives FRP and edge over
traditional material for certain application such as strengthening of bridge beams and
slabs. Advanced fibrous polymer composite materials such as thin carbon-fibre-
reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips or plates provide an economical and efficient solution
for extending the service life of deficient structures in general and RC structures in
particular. FRP strips also offer other high performance advantages such as high specific
strength and stiffness, high durability, low creep and high fatigue resistance in
comparison to conventional cementitious materials. The performance of these strips,
however, depends on the strength of the adhesive used to bond them with the concrete
surface, the state of stress at the interface of the concrete and FRP strips, and the failure
modes in the concrete. However, RCC beams strengthened with FRP and CERP
laminates experience brittle failure, with reduced energy absorption and ductility.
Reinforced concrete beams or slabs strengthened with externally bonded or attached FRP
plates to the tension face (soffit) increase the ultimate flexural strength several times their
original strength. The technique of strengthening concrete beams with composite strips is
as simple and convenient as the earlier method that has been used to repair concrete
beams with steel plates. The advantages of this technique are that the work can be carried
out while the structure is still is use and it is economical compared to other methods.

FRP Composites to Retrofit

Concrete Structures
Increased Need of
Rehabilitation
• Historic Buildings
• Infrastructure
• Reconstruction
• 20 – 40 % New Investments
• 60 – 80 % Repair/Upgrading
2. TYPES OF LAMINATES:-
1. CFRP
2. GFRP
3. ALUMINA FIBERS

1. CFRP :-
CORBONREINFORCED POLYMER USED FOR HIGH STRENGTH.

2. GFRP:-
GIASS REINFORCED FIBER USED SPECIALLY USED IN FIRE
RESISTANCE AND DECORATIVE LIGHT WEIGHT MATERIALS.

3. ALUMINA FIBERS:-
THESE FIBERS ARE USED AS LIGHT WEIGHT MATERIAS AND IN
AEROSPASE ENGINEEGING.
3. USES OR ADVANTAGES OF COMPOSITE
MATERIALS:

a. LIGHT WEIGHT HENCE EASY TO HANDLE.

b. Non-metallic HENCE corrosion resistant
c. possesses higher strength and stiffness.
d. RETROFITTING AND REPAIRS CAN BE CARRIED OUT
EVEN WHEN STRUCTURES ARE IN USE
e. THINNER AND FLEXIBLE HENCE EASY CUT INYO SHAPE
AND TO TRANSPORT
DIS ADVANTAGES OF COMPOSITE LAMINATES:
a. costlier compared to traditional materials
b. no proper design is available for installation , but an American
institute is working under code development.
c.
APPLICATION OF FRP:
FRPARE WIDELY USED IN

�Insufficient
reinforcement
� Corrosion damage
� HIGHWAYS
� Structural damage
� Seismic upgrade
BEAMS
SLABS
POST TENTION TENDONS
FRP Composites to Retrofit
Concrete Structures
CCASE STUDY:
Object data
– Parking garage
– 88 no. of columns
Reason for strengthening
– Increased loading
– Chlorides
– Steel corrosion
Strengthening of columns
1.FRP Composites to Retrofit
Concrete Structures

• 1999, Open for traffic

• 2001, April: Cracks found at
inspection
• 2001, Number and size of cracks
increases
• 2001, November: Closed for
traffic, temporary strengthening
• 2002, Mars: Open again for
traffic
• Permanent strengthening and
monitoring
FRP Composites to Retrofit
Concrete Structures
2.Strengthening of Silos
Extensive Cracking
Wrong design

FRP Composites to Retrofit

Concrete Structures
One silo is strengthened on the
outside and one on the inside.

Strengthening of Silos
Conclusion
�FRP materials have been
successfully used by
DOT’s for:
�Bridge decks
� Rebar

� External strengthening

� Composites are now

considered a viable
means of strengthening
existing structures
� National guidelines are
available to assist
Engineers in design (i.e. ACI
440)
� Thousands of projects have
already been
successfully strengthened
with FRP materials
• External strengthening with CFRP
materials has a wide
range of applications.
• Laboratory and full-scale tests
have shown that the
strengthening methods works in
reality.
• Strengthening can be carried out
during structural use.
• The methods are cost effective
compared to traditional
methods.
• Insulation (I) to prevent
developing excessive
temperature on the unexposed
surface of the building element;
• structural Integrity (E) to
maintain the separating function
in preventing spread of flame
and smoke;
• ability for Load-Bearing (R)
structural element to support
the load under fire.
BIOLOGRAPHY:
JNNCE FACALTIES
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