Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) has been utilized in strengthening structural elements for over 20 years. More recently, CFRP has been introduced as a repair alternative for failing pipe sections and joints as well as other emergency applications that afford a shortened construction schedule, minimal curing time and immediate return to service conditions and pressures.Studies have recently been performed at a university testing laboratory to determine the effectiveness of CFRP when used for emergency repairs. Column samples have been tested to failure without yielding the steel. The failed samples have then been repaired by patching the damaged concrete, injecting epoxy into the cracks and applying CFRP to strengthen the column. The repaired columns were then tested within 48 hours of the CFRP application to determine the effectiveness of the concrete patch, epoxy injection and CFRP repair under a shortened allowable cure schedule. The shortened schedule is intended to simulate an immediate recurrence of a large scale seismic event or other loading condition that would test the capacity of the element to determine if it is feasible to take an unserviceable element (column) and immediately return it to serviceability. In all cases, the CFRP repaired columns have performed as well or better than the original un-strengthened test specimen.This paper will use a recent emergency pipe repair to illustrate the benefits of utilizing the CFRP repair method in an effort to obtain a sound and timely emergency pipe repair.
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