Concrete columns confined with high-strength fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites can enhance the strength as well as the ductility of such structures. In recent years, the use of FRP composites to repair and strengthen existing reinforced concrete (RC) structures has been widely used. When the columns of existing RC structures are wrapped with FRP composites, the core concrete of such col...

Basalt continuous fibers are regarded as an inert and naturally occurring material that is produced from basalt rock by using single component raw material and drawing and winding fibers from the melt. Basalt based materials are environmentally friendly and nonhazardous. Basalt FRP (BFRP) composites as a reinforcement not only display a higher strength and modulus, but also a similar cost, and ...

Tension stiffening behavior of post-cracking concrete is an important phenomenon which has been extensively studied for reinforced concrete structures. Although externally bonded fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are widely used for strengthening existing RC structures, it remains unclear to what extent the tension stiffening of post-cracking concrete is quantitatively influenced by the...

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites offer very high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios. As a result, the aerospace industry is making a major effort to incorporate an increasing number of composite materials into various components and structures. However, machining of FRP composites is one of the most difficult and least understood areas in manufacturing technology. Thus, ...

Debonding failure is the main failure mode in flexurally strengthened reinforced concrete beams by externally bonded or near surface mounted fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. It is believed that FRP debonding will be initiated if the shear stress on the concrete-FRP interface reaches the tensile strength of concrete. However, it was found through experimental and analytical studies tha...

Repairing deteriorated concrete bridge piers using externally wrapped FRP (fiber reinforced polymer) composites has been proven as an effective approach. This technique has also been applied to low-rise building structures. Failures in FRP-wrapped concrete structures may occur by flexural failures of critical sections or by debonding of FRP plate from the concrete substrate. Debonding in the FR...

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are being promoted as the materials of 21st century because of their superior corrosion resistance, excellent thermo-mechanical properties, and high strength-to-weight ratio. For over 25 years, the Constructed Facilities Center at West Virginia University (CFC-WVU) has been conducting research on fundamentals of engineering and material sciences, innova...

In recent decades, the application of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for strengthening structural elements has become an efficient option to meet the increased cyclic loads or repair due to corrosion or fatigue cracking. Hence, the objective of this study is to explore the existing FRP reinforcing techniques to care for fatigue damaged structural steel elements. This study covers the...

This paper reports on nine relevant applications of FRP composites in concrete structures in the United States. Strengthening of concrete members with externally bonded FRP laminates or near surface mounted (NSM) bars has received remarkable attention. FRP materials have been used in small projects and some multi-million dollar projects for strengthening parking garages, multi-purpose conventio...

The paper discusses the results of an experimental investigation carried out on reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened in shear by externally bonded fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) sheets. The study is devoted to analyze the role that the transverse steel reinforcement and the beam slenderness ratio could play on the resistant mechanism of RC beams strengthened in shear by FRP composites. T...