Advanced fibre reinforced polymer FRP composites for structural applications

• Author : J. Bai
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have become essential materials for maintaining and strengthening existing infrastructure. Many new innovative types of hybrid material and structural systems have been developed using FRP composite materials. Increased utilisation of FRP requires that structural engineers and practitioners be able to understand the behaviour of FRP materials and design composite structures. This book provides an overview of different advanced FRP composites and the use of these materials in a variety of application areas. This chapter specifically covers

• Author : S. Pansart
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

This chapter provides some basic knowledge about FRP manufacturing processes involving prepreg materials. It contains information regarding the manufacture of prepreg semi-finished products, processing methods for obtaining structural components, and some considerations about quality. It is intended as an overview only, addressing engineering students or practitioners who have only little knowledge about composites and prepreg processing technologies.

• Author : A. Al-Shawaf
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

This chapter addresses all aspects pertaining to stresses inherent within civil applications of advanced composites, particularly the critical interfacial adhesive stresses usually controlling the design strength for externally bonded FRP composites. Informed discussions and explanations are presented on influential aspects closely affecting the distribution and magnitude of interfacial stresses along the bondline. Traditional and promising experimental methods for stress estimation are addressed, together with a corresponding brief literature review highlighting their evolution and practical advantages and disadvantages. Theoretical and numerical

• Author : L.C. Hollaway
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

This chapter will introduce advances in properties, production and manufacturing techniques of the advanced polymer/fibre composite materials that are utilised in the manufacture of machines that produce sustainable energy. discussed the various methods of transferring wind, tidal, wave and solar energies into electrical power and this chapter will show how advanced composites are utilised in these various machines. Furthermore, it will suggest methods for the repair, maintenance and recycling of advanced polymer composite wind turbine blades. Finally, the future

• Author : J. Custódio,S. Cabral-Fonseca
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

This chapter briefly discusses the performance and durability of bonded composite systems used for on-site rehabilitation of timber and concrete structures. In spite of some recent developments, the exploitation of their full potential is still often restrained by the lack of structural design guidance, standards for durability assessment and on-site acceptance testing. Therefore, this chapter provides a review of current understanding on the use of hybrid bonded composite systems on the construction site in terms of structural repair, reinforcement, and

• Author : R.M. Guedes,J. Xavier
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

This chapter describes the elastic qualities of advanced fibre-reinforced composites, in terms of characterization, measurement and prediction from the basic constituents, i.e. the fibre and matrix. The elastic analysis comprises applying micromechanics approaches to predict the lamina elastic properties from the basic constituents, and using classical lamination theory to predict the elastic properties of composite materials composed of several laminae stacked at different orientations. Examples are given to illustrate the theoretical analysis and give a full apprehension of its

• Author : K. Benzarti,X. Colin
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are increasingly being used in the field of civil engineering, either for the rehabilitation/retrofitting of existing infrastructures or for the construction of new structural elements. However, such applications are still recent and there are still unresolved questions regarding the long-term durability of FRP reinforcements or structural elements under service conditions, and their behaviour under accidental fire events as well. In this chapter, it is proposed to highlight the basic mechanisms involved in the environmental degradation

• Author : L.C. Hollaway
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

Chapters 16 and discuss the development of the advanced polymer composite material applications in bridge engineering. They demonstrate the innovative types of components and structures which have been developed from FRP composite materials and the most advantageous way to employ composites in bridge engineering. Given the importance of bridge infrastructure, the discussion of this topic has been split over two chapters. This chapter focuses on the type of FRP composite materials used in bridge engineering, their in-service properties and their applications

• Author : J. Ramôa Correia
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

This chapter focuses on the properties, manufacturing processes and quality control of pultruded advanced composites used in civil engineering applications. Pultrusion technology is first briefly explained, with the main features of the raw materials used being introduced, and the philosophy underlying the development of pultruded advanced composites discussed. A detailed description of the pultrusion process then follows, covering the equipment and procedure, technical specifications and quality control. Subsequently, the types, properties, applications and sustainability of pultruded profiles, reinforcing bars and

• Author : F. Taheri
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

There is strong evidence that the oil and gas industry has become increasingly interested in using pipes and risers made of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials. Moreover, oil and gas exploration nowadays has to be conducted in much deeper water depths (500–1500m and deeper), thus requiring more resilient and lighter materials. in this section various applications of FRP in relation to pipes and risers are discussed to familiarise the reader with various FRP and hybrid pipes. The issues affecting the

• Author : F. Sarasini,C. Santulli
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

This chapter discusses the use of vinylester resin as a matrix in polymer composite materials to be used in civil engineering applications. The chapter begins by discussing the increasing trend of composite development and use in civil engineering along with the related reasons. It then reviews the chemistry of vinylester resins together with their mechanical and chemical properties as well as the applications of vinylester resin and composites in the construction industry. The chapter includes indications on future applications of

• Author : T.H. Panzera,A.L. Christoforo,P.H. Ribeiro Borges
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

Portland cement concrete is a brittle material. The main reason for incorporating fibres into a cement matrix is to improve the cracking deformation characteristics, increasing not only the toughness, impact and tensile strength, but also eliminating temperature and shrinkage cracks. Several different types of fibres have been used to reinforce cement-based materials. This chapter briefly discusses the characteristics of fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC), reporting the effect of the fibres on the physico-chemical and mechanical properties. It also presents some of the

• Author : N. Miskolczi
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

The chapter discusses the use of one type of thermoset polymer, polyester, and its use as a matrix material in fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. It begins with an overview of FRP composites, before explaining why polyester is a particularly suitable material for this application, through discussion of its key properties and structures and the manufacturing processes involved. Composites can offer improved mechanical properties compared with pure polymers at no extra cost, meaning that they are widely used in a variety

• Author : S. Bickerton,Q. Govignon,P. Kelly
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

The term liquid composite moulding (LCM) encompasses a family of processes in which a dry fibrous reinforcement is impregnated by a liquid resin inside a sealed cavity. As the understanding and control of these processes improve, their field of application widens. LCM processes can be used as a replacement to decrease the environmental impact and improve the quality of composite parts made via traditional open-mould processes. they can also provide a cost-cutting alternative to prepreg techniques while maintaining a high

• Author : A. Khennane
• Publisher : Elsevier Inc. Chapters
• Release : 30 September 2013

Despite considerable potential and many advantages over conventional materials, composites are making limited progress in the field of infrastructure applications, where the only niche market for composites is in FRP deck construction over steel girders and externally bonded FRP repair. The reasons, of course, are to be found in their high initial cost compared with conventional materials. This can only be addressed through the use of large-volume automated processes such as pultrusion and filament winding, which have the potential to