The present paper deals with optimization of hybrid fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) laminated plates subjected to impact loading using island model parallel genetic algorithm (IMPGA). Finite element method (FEM) and IMPGA have been used to obtain optimum laminates in terms of minimizing the cost, weight or both cost and weight of Graphite/Epoxy (T300/5208)–Aramid/Epoxy (Kevlar 49) hybrid laminat...

Piles used in bridges, structures and marine environments are typically produced using concrete, steel, and timber. High repair and replacement costs of these piles have led North American highway agencies and port authorities to investigate the feasibility of using durable materials such as fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) in pile applications. This paper presents a new generation of composite ...

The use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) U-wrap to rehabilitate concrete beams has increased in popularity over the past few years. As such, many design codes and guidelines have been developed to enable designers to use of FRP for retrofitting reinforced concrete beams. FIB is the only guideline for design which presents a formula for torsional capacity of concrete beams streng...

Abstract Hybrid laminates with continuous fiber reinforcement, such as glass reinforced aluminium laminate (GLARE), aramid aluminum (ARALL), or carbon (CARALL), have been developed to increase the lightweight potential and fatigue resistance applied for aircraft structures. However, use of thermosetting matrices imposes material limitations regarding recycling, malleability, manufacturing-cycle...

Passively damped bracing systems in steel frames, in which the conventional materials of the joint are replaced by high damping viscoelastic materials, have the potential of being effective practical means for passive vibration control of dynamically loaded civil engineering structures. However, this potential can be realized only if the associated structural penalties are reduced within accept...

There is a concern with worldwide deterioration of highway bridges, particularly reinforced concrete. Due to the corrosive nature of steel re-bars used in concrete bridge decks, the service-life of these bridges is reduced. The advantages of advanced composite materials (ACM) over conventional materials motivate their use in highway bridges for rehabilitation and replacement of structures. Howe...

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) material is currently being produced in different configurations and widely used to strengthen and retrofit concrete structures and bridges. It is also possible to apply other strengthening methods without changing the appearance or the dimensions of the structure. Near Surface Mounted (NSM) is a recent strengthening method using CFRP bars (rods or laminate strips...

A new type of washer with integrated pin structures was developed and presented in a previous study for the use mechanical joints fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) metal sheets. Thereby, pin-structured significantly increases load-bearing capacity mechanically joined FRP-metal combinations. To do so, FRP hole area is to be relieved by transferring occurring loads into laminate via structures. In ...

Many RC frames built without seismic provisions between the ’50’s and ’70’s need structural upgrade in order to match the minimum requirements of new building codes. Generally, the critical region of the strengthening design is represented by the beam-column connection. The strength hierarchy governs the upgrade requiring to protect the column and the panel so that the formation of a plastic hi...

Externally bonded carbon-epoxy fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) have been widely used to restore or increase the capacities of reinforced concrete beams (Meier et al., 1992; Neale and Labossière, 1997; Varastehpour and Hamelin, 1997). A typical reinforced concrete bridge deck may experience up to 7x10 stress cycles during the course of a 120year life span (Barnes and Mays, 1999), while an over...