Sustainability of fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) as a construction material

Abstract

Abstract Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have emerged as a relatively new construction material that is used both in new construction and in repair applications and that address many of the drawbacks of traditional construction materials. Primarily, FRP materials are resistant to electro-chemical corrosion, have high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios, and provide installation flexibility making them relatively easy to install in repair applications where access is limited. As such, they have emerged as a sustainable and durable material for the repair of deteriorated concrete structures, including for flexural strengthening and repair, shear strengthening and repair, and confinement of columns. Based on the success of using FRP materials for the repair of concrete structures, they have also been investigated as an alternative repair material for steel structures and have demonstrated promise in this market. In new construction, composites have been used as corrosion-resistant reinforcements for concrete structures and have been adopted in all-FRP structural components, such as bridge decks. In all of these applications, composites represent a promising alternative to traditional construction materials and techniques for a sustainable and durable infrastructure.