New directions for reinforced concrete coastal structures

Abstract Within the last century, coastal structures for infrastructure applications have traditionally been constructed with timber, structural steel, and/or steel-reinforced/prestressed concrete. Given asset owners’ desires increased service-life; reduced maintenance, repair and rehabilitation; liability; resilience; sustainability, it has become clear that traditional construction materials cannot reliably meet these challenges without periodic costly intervention. Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites successfully utilized durable bridge several decades, demonstrating their ability to provide maintenance costs, extend service life, significantly increase design durability. This paper explores a representative sample of applications, related specifically internal reinforcement concrete in both passive (RC) pre-tensioned (PC) contrasts them time-dependent effect cost corrosion transportation infrastructure. Recent development authoritative guidelines within US international engineering communities is summarized examples RC/PC verses FRP-RC/PC presented show sustainable (economic environmental) advantage composite environment.