2 - Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites used in rehabilitation

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an introduction to the Advanced Polymer Composite (APC) materials used in the rehabilitation of Reinforced Concrete (RC), Prestressed Concrete (PC) and metallic and masonry structures. The type of upgrading considered is that required for flexural and shear resistance of beams and wrapping of RC columns. The chapter discusses the mechanical and in-service properties of the two major components of the composite and the properties are considered in terms of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites used in construction and exposed to various civil engineering environments. As the composite plate or the FRP composite wraps used in the rehabilitation of structures are fabricated from the same materials and manufactured by the same techniques as those for the FRP civil engineering structural materials, their mechanical and in-service properties would be of similar values. The chapter discusses some aspects of bonding composites to the more conventional civil engineering materials.