Fibre reinforced polymer FRP composite materials for internal reinforcement

9 Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials for internal reinforcement 

Many types and shapes of FRP materials are now available in the construction industry. For the purposes of tensile reinforcement of concrete, the currently available reinforcing products include unidirectional FRP bars. 

The excellent durability of FRP reinforcing materials in concrete, which has the potential to increase the service lives of structures while reducing inspection and maintenance costs, makes them cost-effective when the entire life-cycle cost of a structure is considered, rather than the initial construction cost alone. 

Another frequently cited potential disadvantage of FRP materials is their relatively low elastic modulus as compared with steel. This means that FRP-reinforced concrete members are often controlled by serviceability (deflection) considerations, rather than strength requirements. 

A description of the durability of internal FRP reinforcement can be found in Section 4.3. 

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