Research Results on Structural Strengthening with FRP Composites : State of the Art from Timişoara

Abstract

Twenty-five years ago, no one could have expected that the use of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites in construction would be so widespread and so successful. It needed dedicated people like Prof. György L. Balázs, who saw the potential in this material, clearly understood the limits of these solutions, and devoted a lot of time to popularizing, improving, and implementing standards for secure applications. When we are discussing research related to the use of FRP in construction performed in Timișoara, two important personalities must be mentioned. The first is Prof. Balázs, who, starting from 1998, supported the development of FRP research in Timișoara with his advice and active participation by guiding the first BSc and MSc thesis and then taking part as an opponent in the first PhD defended in this field. The second person is Prof. Stoian Valeriu, a dedicated professor and excellent structural engineer who recognized the opportunities of the FRPs and trusted in this research direction. In the last 25 years, he has brought up a generation, conducting nine successfully defended PhD theses and several MSc theses in this domain. Congratulations to both! This paper briefly tries to summarize the main research results obtained in the field of structural application of FRP materials realized in the past two decades at the Politehnica University of Timișoara, Faculty of Civil Engineering.