Durability performance of CFRP strand in Permanent Ground Anchors

摘要

Although permanent ground anchor technology has advanced in leaps and bounds over the past two decades, the focus of anchor technology has been on developing techniques to minimise the risk of component and system failure due to corrosion. The advancements in structural materials available in the market in recent years have enabled research into alternative materials for permanent ground anchor systems. Carbon fibre has become a significant structural alternative throughout North America for bridge and building construction as well as repair and structural strengthening of deteriorated/corroded structures. These advancements and the necessity to investigate alternative materials for anchor systems have lead to research in understanding the long term performance effects of using carbon fibre products as an alternative to steel tendons in permanent ground anchors. Advanced research works at Monash University and Geotechnical Engineering investigated the durability performance of various available CFRP strands when used as an alternative to conventional steel tendons in permanent ground anchor systems. Research works included durability performance effects of CFRP strand when exposed to extreme aggressive ground environments under unstressed and stressed conditions at elevated temperatures over a six month curing period; bonding effects of CFRP strand in a cementitious grout; anchorage effects of CFRP strand in ground anchor systems; and full scale gun barrel assessment. The paper summaries the findings from the durability assessment of CFRP strand in aggressive ground environments and how these findings can assist in developing a CFRP permanent ground anchor system.