STRENGTHENING OF METALLIC AND CONCRETE STRUCTURES USING FIBRE-REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITES

摘要

The use of fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) has become an effective solution to retrofit and reinforce existing concrete, masonry structures and metallic structures. This has taken the form of externally bonded reinforcement in existing structures and internally installed reinforcement to replace steel bars in new concrete structures; the latter particularly suited to structures exposed to corrosive environments. Over the last two decades, the use of FRP materials in civil infrastructure has become increasingly dominant worldwide due to the unique properties they possess such as high strength to weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance. This was particularly the case for strengthening concrete and masonry structures. In Australia, the use of externally bonded FRP reinforcement has found wide application in recent years. A good example of this is the retrofitting of the concrete approach viaducts of the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne. Completed at the end of 2010, it is considered to be the largest FRP retrofitting project in the world.