International Concrete Abstracts Portal

This volume contains 72 papers from the 10th International Symposium held in Tampa, FL. The papers address internally reinforced members, strengthening of columns, material characterization, bond, emerging fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) systems, shear strengthening, fatigue and anchorage systems, masonry, extreme events, applications, durability, and strengthening. The papers emphasize the experimental, analytical, and numerical validations of using FRP composites and are aimed at providing insights needed for improving existing guidelines. The increasing maturity and acceptance of FRP is reflected by several papers that provide background information on the recent design codes and guidelines relating to blast and seismic repair. New frontiers of FRP research are explored, addressing emergin materials, and systems and applications for extreme events, such as fires and earthquakes, which will further consolidate FRP’s preeminent position. Note: The individual papers are also available. Please click on the following link to view the papers available, or call 248.848.3800 to order. SP-275

This paper investigates the design of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforced concrete based on ACI 440.1R serviceability requirements related to deflection control of one-way slabs and rectangular beams, and uses this information as the basis for evaluating the minimum member thickness requirements needed to satisfy ACI 318 deflection limits. Serviceability is shown to govern design in most cases, as flexural members designed for deflection control are usually stronger than required. Slabs satisfying deflection requirements have a service load that ranges from 20 to 30% of the nominal member capacity, while service loads for beams range from 35 to 45% of the member capacity. Recommended minimum member thickness values for slabs are too conservative and require revision, while those for beams appear reasonable. A practical approach for design of FRP reinforced concrete members is proposed based on selection of member thicknesses needed to satisfy deflection and strength criteria.

The structural reliability of concrete flexural members reinforced with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement is investigated. Reliability indices based on the equations for flexure in ACI 440.1R-03, which uses the load factors from ACI 318-99 are presented. Choice of a resistance factor for flexure for ACI 440.1R-06, which uses the load factors from ACI 318-02 is also presented. Flexural designs using either ACI 440.1R-03 or ACI 440.1R-06 provide sufficient reliability, with reliability indices between 3.5 and 4.8, with the older versions of ACI 440.1R yielding higher reliability. An analysis of curvature of the beams at failure showed that flexural members that fail by FRP reinforcement rupture have ductilities similar to those that fail by concrete crushing, indicating that FRP reinforcement fracture is not necessarily a more brittle failure mode than concrete crushing.

This paper presents a closed-form procedure to evaluate the shear strength contribution provided to a Reinforced Concrete (RC) beam by a system of Near Surface Mounted (NSM) Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) strips. This procedure is based on the evaluation of: a) the constitutive law of the average-available-bond-length NSM FRP strip effectively crossing the shear crack and b) the maximum effective capacity it can attain during the loading process of the strengthened beam. Once the constitutive law of the average-available-bond-length NSM strip is reliably known, its maximum effective capacity can be determined by imposing a coherent kinematic mechanism. The self-contained and ready-to-implement set of analytical equations and logical operations is presented along with the main underlying physical-mechanical principles and assumptions. The formulation proposed is appraised against some of the most recent experimental results and its predictions are also compared with those obtained by a recently developed more sophisticated model.

Retrofitting of existing concrete structures and civil infrastructure has become necessary due to environmental degradation, changes in usage and heavier loading conditions. The use of advanced carbon fiber composite materials (CFRP) as externally bonded reinforcement has found wide application in recent years and has proven to be an effective method of improving the structural performance of existing structures. A good example of this is the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne, Australia for which the following case study is presented. Key innovations in CFRP technology developed specifically for this project have been described in the areas of design and testing of CFRP anchorage technology, involving the utilization of unidirectional and bidirectional fabrics together with mechanical substrate strengthening. These have all resulted in increases in material utilizations and enabled successful transfer of combined shear and torsional forces. Key aspects of the detailing, application, quality control and monitoring program adopted in the project are also presented along with the key aspects which resulted in the successful execution of this world class project.