Laboratory Characterization of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Reinforcement Material Properties and Surface Treatment Behavior in Concrete

About the project:

The corrosion of carbon steel rebar increases the life cycle costs by requiring more frequent repairs, which require extra material and labor that would not be required if the rebar material was insusceptible to corrosion. Virginia’s status as a coastal state and as a user of deicing salts on roadways makes corrosion-resistant reinforcing materials more suitable and practical for use. Balancing the performance and cost of alternative materials based on requirements of different designs and structures is a necessity. High performance materials tend to have higher construction costs but tend to reduce the overall cost over the life of the structure. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcing is one example that is more expensive than traditional steel reinforcing. However, this difference in initial cost can be offset by reducing the future cost associated with repairing steel-reinforced concrete in aggressive environments. In addition, there are those who suggest that FRP materials can be treated very similarly to steel when designing a structure. However, some of the properties associated with some FRP products could be considered inferior to steel reinforcement. To address some of these concerns, this study seeks to provide laboratory material test information regarding the comparative performance of various reinforcement products, including glass FRP (GFRP), basalt FRP (BFRP), and carbon FRP (CFRP). In order to make these determinations, other material properties of the bars must be evaluated to discover if there are specific properties that could adversely affect the behavior and durability of a structure.

Project Team

Principal Investigators

Co-Principal Investigators