UPGRADING CONCRETE STRUCTURES USING ADVANCED POLYMER COMPOSITES

Abstract

Externally bonded fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) have been employed extensively throughout the world in numerous rehabilitation applications of reinforced concrete structures. This paper focuses on upgrading (e.g. strengthening, seismic retrofitting) of RC elements using FRP for shear, flexure and confinement. The key concepts and mechanics are summarized and a brief description of recent developments related to seismic retrofitting of beam-column joints, placing of FRP inside slits and confining according to alternative FRP wrapping techniques are presented.