Abstract
While Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have been used for decades in aerospace and manufacturing application, the use of such systems for rehabilitation of existing structures is more recent. In most cases, rehabilitation of existing structures occurs due to concrete spalling caused by extensive rebar corrosion. It has been shown through numerous experimental and analytical studies that externally-bonded FRP composites can be applied to not only improve structural performance criteria but also the durability of members. This report presents the findings of a research performed at University of Central Florida which focused on performance of large scale concrete beams damaged prior to repair with FRP. Two types systems were tested: epoxy and polyurethane based carbon fiber system. Results show that both systems increase flexural capacity of concrete reinforced beams. In addition, data shows that while polyurethane matrices are typically characterized by lower shear and tensile strengths, results demonstrate that the flexibility of the polyurethane matrix as a primer is advantageous in spreading the bond stresses over a larger area compared with epoxy composites.
