Long-term effects of wet and outdoor conditions on GFRP

摘要

This paper gives the results of a study into the (semi) long-term effects of wet and outdoorrncondition on the material properties of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyester (GFRP). In 2001, 6 GFRPrntest panels have been placed above, below and on the water level at the lock-heads of thern“Spieringsluis” lock in the Netherlands. After 13 years of being exposed to these outdoorrnconditions, the panels were removed and material tests were carried out to determine thernremaining strength and stiffness. In this paper, test results are compared to test results fromrnpanels that have been stored indoors during the same period and to test results from tests thatrnwere carried out in 1999. The reduction of strength and stiffness properties is compared to thernreduction factors for temperature and humidity effects according to the Dutch CURrnRecommendation 96 for the design of FRP structures.