An Introduction to FRP-

Strengthening of Concrete Structures

ISIS Educational Module 4:
Produced by ISIS Canada
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement
Module Objectives
To provide students with a general
awareness of FRP materials and their
potential uses

To introduce students to the general
philosophies and procedures for
strengthening structures with FRPs
ISIS EC Module 4
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement
Overview
Introduction
FRP Materials
Evaluation of
Existing Structures
Beam & One-Way
Slab Strengthening
Column
Strengthening
Specifications &
Quality Control
Advanced
Applications
Field Applications
Additional Info
ISIS EC Module 4
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 1
Introduction
The worlds population depends on an extensive
infrastructure system
Roads, sewers, highways, buildings
The system has suffered in past years
Neglect, deterioration, lack of funding
Global Infrastructure Crisis
ISIS EC Module 4
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 1
Introduction
A primary factor leading to extensive degradation
ISIS EC Module 4
Corrosion
Moisture, oxygen and
chlorides penetrate
Concrete
Reinforcing
Steel
Through concrete
Through cracks
Corrosion products form
Volume expansion occurs
More cracking
Corrosion propagation
End result

FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 1
Introduction
Why repair with the same materials?
Why repeat the cycle?
ISIS EC Module 4
FRP Materials
Lightweight
Easy to install
High Strength
5x steel
Corrosion resistant
Durable structures
Highly versatile
Suit any project
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 1
FRP Materials
ISIS EC Module 4
Type Application Schematic
FRP-Strengthening Applications
Fibre Dir.
Confinement

Around
column
Circumferential
Section
Shear
Side face of
beam (u-wrap)
Perpendicular
to long. axis
of beam Section
Flexural
side face of
Tension and/or
beam
axis of beam
Along long.
Section
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 2
FRP Materials
Longstanding reputation in automotive and
aerospace industries

Over the past 15 years have FRP materials been
increasingly considered for civil infrastructure
applications
ISIS EC Module 4
FRP costs have decreased
New, innovative solutions needed!
General
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 2
FRP Materials
Wide range of FRP products
available:
Plates
Rigid strips
Formed through pultrusion
Sheets
Flexible fabric
ISIS EC Module 4
General

Carbon FRP
sheet
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 2
FRP Materials
ISIS EC Module 4
Constituents
What is FRP?
Fibres
Provide strength
and stiffness
Carbon, glass, aramid
Matrix
Protects and transfers load
between fibres
Epoxy, polyester, vinyl ester
Fibre Matrix
Composite
Creates a material with attributes superior to either component alone!
Strain [%]
0.4-4.8 >10
34-130
1800-4900
S
t
r
e
s
s

[
M
P
a
]

FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 2
FRP Materials
ISIS EC Module 4
Properties
Typical FRP stress-strain behaviour
FRP
Fibres
Matrix
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 2
FRP Materials
ISIS EC Module 4
Installation Techniques
uWet lay-up
Used with flexible sheets
Saturate sheets with epoxy adhesive
Place on concrete surface
Epoxy
Roller

Resin acts as adhesive
AND matrix
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 2
FRP Materials
ISIS EC Module 4
Installation Techniques
vPre-cured
Used with rigid, pre-cured strips
Apply adhesive to strip backing
Place on concrete surface
Not as flexible for variable
structural shapes
Resin acts as adhesive
AND matrix
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 2
FRP Materials
ISIS EC Module 4
Properties
FRP properties
(versus steel):
Linear elastic behaviour
to failure
No yielding
Higher ultimate strength
Lower strain at failure Strain [%]
1 2 3
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
S
t
r
e
s
s

[
M
P
a
]

Steel
CFRP
GFRP
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 2
FRP Materials
ISIS EC Module 4
Properties
FRP material
properties are
a function of:
Type of fibre and matrix
Fibre volume content
Orientation of fibres
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 2
FRP Materials
ISIS EC Module 4
Pro/Con
FRP advantages
FRP disadvantages
Will not corrode
High strength-to-weight ratio
Electromagnetically inert
High initial material cost
But not when life-cycle costs are considered
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 3
Evaluation of Existing Structures
ISIS EC Module 4
Deficiencies
Deficiencies due to:
uEnvironmental Effects
Freeze-Thaw
Chloride Ingress
Wet-Dry
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 3
Evaluation of Existing Structures
ISIS EC Module 4
Deficiencies
Deficiencies due to:
v Updated Design Loads
w Updated design code procedures
Then Now
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 3
Evaluation of Existing Structures
ISIS EC Module 4
Deficiencies
Deficiencies due to:
xIncrease in Traffic Loads
Then Now
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 3
Evaluation of Existing Structures
ISIS EC Module 4
Evaluation
Evaluation is important to:
Determine concrete condition
Identify the cause of the deficiency
Establish the current load capacity
Evaluate the feasibility of FRP strengthening
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 3
Evaluation of Existing Structures
ISIS EC Module 4
Evaluation
Evaluation should include:
All past modifications
Actual size of elements
Actual material properties
Location, size and cause of cracks, spalling
Location, extent of corrosion
Quantity, location of rebar
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 3
Evaluation of Existing Structures
ISIS EC Module 4
Concrete Surface
One of the key aspects of
strengthening: State of concrete substrate
Concrete must transfer load from the elements to
the FRPs through shear in the adhesive
Surface modification required where surface flaws exist
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
ISIS EC Module 4
FRP rupture
uFailure caused by:
Flexural Strengthening
Assumptions
Concrete crushing
vPlane sections remain plane
wPerfect bond between steel/concrete, FRP/concrete
xAdequate anchorage & development length provided for FRPs
yFRPs are linear elastic to failure
zConcrete compressive stress-strain curve is parabolic, no
strength in tension
{Initial strains in FRPs can be ignored
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
ISIS EC Module 4
Resistance Factors
Material Bridge Building
Steel
f
S
=0.90 f
S
=0.85
Concrete
f
C
=0.75 f
C
=0.6
FRP

f
frp
= 0.75
f
frp
= 0. 50
Carbon

Glass

FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
ISIS EC Module 4
Failure Modes
Concrete crushing before steel yields
Four potential failure modes:
Steel yielding followed by concrete crushing
Steel yielding followed by FRP rupture
Debonding of FRP reinforcement
Assume failure mode Perform analysis Check failure mode
Debonding is prevented through special end anchorages
*** Assume initial strains at the time of strengthening are zero ***
*** Refer to EC Module 4 Notes ***
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
ISIS EC Module 4
Force equilibrium in section:
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
General Design
b
d
Cross Section
A
s
Strain Distribution
e
frp
e
c
h
b
frp
e
s
c

Stress Distribution
f
s
f
frp
Equiv. Stress
Distribution
a = b
1
c

a
1

c
f
c
T
s
T
frp
C
c
T
s
+ T
frp
= C
c
Eq. 4-1
C
c
= f
c
a
1
f
c
b
1
bc T
frp
= f
frp
A
frp
E
frp
e
frp
T
s
= f
s
A
s
f
s

FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
ISIS EC Module 4
b
d
Cross Section
A
s
Apply strain compatibility and use these equations to solve for neutral
axis depth, c
Strain Distribution
e
frp
e
c
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
General Design
h
b
frp
e
s
c

Stress Distribution
f
s
f
frp
Equiv. Stress
Distribution
a = b
1
c

a
1

c
f
c
T
s
T
frp
C
c
Section capacity:
M
r
= T
s
d -

a

2

Eq. 4-5 + T
frp


h -

a

2

FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
ISIS EC Module 4
b
d
Cross Section
A
s
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
Analysis Procedure
h
b
frp
Step1: Assume failure mode
Assume that section fails by concrete crushing after steel yields
Strain Distribution
e
frp
e
cu
e
s
c

Thus: e
frp
= e
cu
Eq. 4-6
e
c
= e
cu
= 0.0035
(h-c)/c

e
s
= e
cu
(d-c)/c

Eq. 4-7
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
ISIS EC Module 4
b
d
Cross Section
A
s
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
Analysis Procedure
h
b
frp
Step 2: Determine compressive stress block factors
Strain Distribution
e
frp
e
cu
e
s
c

Eq. 4-8 a
1
= 0.85-0.0015f
c
> 0.67
Eq. 4-9
b
1
= 0.97-0.0025f
c
> 0.67
Stress Distribution
f
s
f
frp
Equiv. Stress
Distribution
a = b
1
c

a
1

c
f
c
T
s
T
frp
C
c
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
ISIS EC Module 4
b
d
Cross Section
A
s
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
Analysis Procedure
h
b
frp
Step 3: Determine neutral axis depth, c
Strain Distribution
e
frp
e
cu
e
s
c

Stress Distribution
f
s
f
frp
Equiv. Stress
Distribution
a = b
1
c

a
1

c
f
c
T
s
T
frp
C
c
Eq. 4-10
f
c
a
1
f
c
b
1
bc f
frp
A
frp
E
frp
e
frp
=

f
s
A
s
f
s
+


FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
ISIS EC Module 4
b
d
Cross Section
A
s
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
Analysis Procedure
h
b
frp
Step 4: Check if assumed failure mode is correct
Strain Distribution
e
frp
e
cu
e
s
c

Stress Distribution
f
s
f
frp
Equiv. Stress
Distribution
a = b
1
c

a
1

c
f
c
T
s
T
frp
C
c
>

e
frp
= e
cu
(h-c)/c

e
frpu
Eq. 4-11
If true, go to Step 6 If false, go to Step 5
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
ISIS EC Module 4
b
d
Cross Section
A
s
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
Analysis Procedure
h
b
frp
Step 5: Calculate factored moment resistance
Strain Distribution
e
frp
e
cu
e
s
c

Stress Distribution
f
s
f
frp
Equiv. Stress
Distribution
a = b
1
c

a
1

c
f
c
T
s
T
frp
C
c
M
r
= f
s
A
s
f
y
d -

a

2

Eq. 4-12 +

h -

a

2

f
frp
A
frp
E
frp
e
frp
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
ISIS EC Module 4
b
d
Cross Section
A
s
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
Analysis Procedure
h
b
frp
Step 5: Calculate factored moment resistance
Strain Distribution
e
frp
e
cu
e
s
c

Stress Distribution
f
s
f
frp
Equiv. Stress
Distribution
a = b
1
c

a
1

c
f
c
T
s
T
frp
C
c
Check if internal steel yields to ensure adequate deformability
e
s
= e
cu
(d-c)/c

>


y
If yes, OK
If no, reduce FRP
amount & recalculate
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
ISIS EC Module 4
b
d
Cross Section
A
s
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
Analysis Procedure
h
b
frp
Step 6: Assume different failure mode
Strain Distribution
e
frpu
e
c
e
s
c

Stress Distribution
f
s
f
frpu
Equiv. Stress
Distribution
a = b
1
c

a
1

c
f
c
T
s
T
frp
C
c
Assume failure occurs by tensile failure of FRP
Thus:
e
frp
= e
frpu
e
c
< e
cu
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
ISIS EC Module 4
b
d
Cross Section
A
s
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
Analysis Procedure
h
b
frp
Strain Distribution
e
frpu
e
c
e
s
c

Stress Distribution
f
s
f
frpu
Equiv. Stress
Distribution
a = b
1
c

a
1

c
f
c
T
s
T
frp
C
c
Eq. 4-15
f
c
a
1
f
c
b
1
bc f
frp
A
frp
E
frp
e
frpu
=

f
s
A
s
f
y
+


Step 7: Determine depth of neutral axis
FRP
Repair with
reinforcement Section: 4
ISIS EC Module 4
b
d
Cross Section
A
s
Beam/One-Way Slab Strengthening
Analysis Procedure
h
b
frp
Strain Distribution
e
frpu
e
c
e
s
c

Stress Distribution
f
s
f
frpu
Equiv. Stress
Distribution
a = b
1
c

a
1

c
f
c
T
s
T
frp
C
c
Step 8: Check if assumed failure mode is correct
e
c
< e
cu
e
frpu
c / (h-c) < e
cu