FRP Fiber-Reinforced Polymer

Development of FRP (Fiber-reinforced polymer) -reinforced polymer concrete structural members [81-82]... 

Nowadays reinforcement fibers are used in many materials to improve their physical and chemical properties (Huang et al., 2009 Amir et al, 2010). A composite (FRP, fiber-reinforced polymer) is formulated and manufactured with the purpose of obtaining a unique combination of properties the incorporation of reinforcement fibers to coatings forms a hybrid structure. Fiber is defined as any material that has a minimum ratio of length to average transverse dimension of 10 to 1 in addition, the transverse dimension should not exceed 250 pm. 

Figure 3.10 Different layers comprising the wall of the honeycomb-FRP (fiber-reinforced polymer) pipe.

Figure 3.16 (a) A corroded oval-shaped corrugated metal pipe culvert requiring repair and (b) a custom-made honeycomb-FRP (fiber-reinforced polymer) pipe can match the shape of the culvert to minimize the loss of flow. 

The initial evaluation showed that utilizing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) for pipelines is a feasible alternative to steel pipelines with regard to performance and cost [35]. From the cost analysis, an FRP pipe is quite attractive, especially in the regional or distributed service. Currently, spoolable piping manufacturers could install a composite pipeline for serving a 100,000 population for a cost of 250,000-500,000/mi. (does not include the cost for right-of-way), which is well below the DOE s capital cost target in 2017 of 800,000/mi. [35]. From this estimate and cost analyses, it is seen that FRP pipe economics is very attractive, especially for the distribution service. 

ACI-440.R-07 (2007). Report on Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Reinforcement for Concrete Structures. Farmington HiUs, MI, American Concrete Institute. 

Brena, S. E, S. L. Wood and M. L. Kreger (2002). Fatigue tests of reinforced polymer composites. Second International Conference on Durability of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites for Construction, Sherbrooke, Qudbec, Canada, pp. 575-586. 

The mechanical responses (stress, strain, displacement, and strength) of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites under elevated and high temperatures are affected significantly by their thermal exposure. On the other hand, mechanical responses have almost no influence on the thermal responses of these materials. As a result, the mechanical and thermal responses can be decoupled. This can be done by, in a first step, estimating the thermal responses (as introduced in Chapter 6) and then, based on the modeHng of temperature-dependent mechanical properties, predicting the mechanical responses of the FRP composites. 

As the range of applications for fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials in civil engineering constantly increases, there is more and more concern with regard to their performance in critical environments. The high temperature behavior of composite materials is especially important, as fire is a potentially dangerous scenario that must be considered at the design stage of civil infrastructure. 

Note This chapter is an adapted version of Chapter 1 Types of fiber and fiber arrangement in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites by Y. Gowayed, originally published in Developments in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for civil engineering, eA. Nasim Uddin, Woodhead Publishing Limited, 2013, ISBN 978-0-85709-234-2. 

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are made of a mixture of two solid materials, a material with high strength and stiffness surrounded by a homogeneous material that protects it and keeps it in place. The stiff material or reinforcement is typically made of a directional component such as fibers, rods, or sheets, while the surrounding material is typically isotropic and is called the matrix. This chapter will focus on the reinforcement. 

Worth mentioning are, for instance, the programming regnlations drafted and issued on specific journals by the fib Task Group 9.3, the European fonnding committee in 1998, or the official journals of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), whose aim is to provide new guidelines for the design and construction of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) concrete strnctnres. 

ACI 440.3R-12 Guide Test Methods for Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites for Reinforcing or Strengthening Concrete and Masonry Structures... 

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