The present study reviews applications of FRP materials joined by structural adhesives in civil engineering. FE analysis with mix-mode cohesive zone material model (CZM) was used to analyze stresses induced in two structural adhesives joining dissimilar materials (concrete GFRP-CFRP) of the hybrid-composite unit. The predicted failure loads, displacements and deformation by the 3-D non-linear FE analysis in the present study are in good agreement with the experimental results of the hybrid-composite unit reported by Deskovic et al. (1995). The contact analysis revealed a complex 3-D state of stress in the bondlines of both structural adhesives. It is concluded that higher joint strength is expected when a ductile adhesive is used. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This study presents the experimental results of nine full-scale lap spliced glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforced concrete (RC) columns, and one additional reference steel-RC column with lap splices, under axial and cyclic-reversed loads. The test parameters included type of reinforcement, lap splice length of longitudinal reinforcement, transverse reinforcement spacing, and the effect of using steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC). Test results indicated that a splice length of 60 times the diameter of the longitudinal column bar was adequate in transferring the full bond forces along the splice length and were able to maintain the lateral load carrying capacity when subjected to higher levels of axial loads and drift ratios. In addition, lap spliced GFRP-RC columns with closely spaced transverse reinforcement achieved high levels of deformability. Furthermore, the use of SFRC in columns with inadequate splice increased the peak lateral strength and the energy dissipation of the specimens. / February 2017

Within this research, factors affecting the orientation of injection molded long fiber composites in an end-gated plaque were investigated. Matrix viscosity was found to have a small effect on fiber orientation. The impact matrix viscosity had on orientation was dependent on fiber loading. At lower fiber loadings, the higher viscosity material had a more asymmetric orientation profile throughout the samples and less of a shell-core-shell orientation. At higher fiber loadings, there were few differences in orientation due to matrix viscosity. Fiber concentration was found to have a larger influence on fiber orientation than matrix viscosity. Increased fiber concentration led to a lower degree of flow alignment and a broader core region at all locations examined, following the trend previously reported for short fiber composites. The orientations of three different fiber length distributions of glass fiber (GF) were compared. The longer fibers in the fiber length distribution were shown to have a disproportionate effect on orientation, with weight average aspect ratio being better than number average aspect ratio at indicating if the GF and CF samples orientated comparably. To improve properties transverse to the main flow direction, the super critical carbon dioxide aided deagglomeration of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was used to create injection molded multiscale composites with CNT, CF, and polypropylene. The addition of CNTs greatly improved the tensile and electrical properties of the composites compared to those without CNTs. The degree of improvement from adding CNTs was found to be dependent on CF concentration, indicating that the CNTs were most likely interacting with the CF and not the polymer. A CNT concentration of 1 wt% with a tenfold degree of expansion at 40 wt% CF proved to be optimum. A large improvement in the tensile properties transverse to the flow direction was found implying that the CNTs were not highly flow aligned. Tensile and electrical properties began to fall off at higher CNT loadings and degrees of expansion indicating the importance of obtaining a good dispersion of CNTs in the part. / Ph. D.

Master of Science / Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science / Kimberly W. Kramer / Pultruded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) shapes are gaining popularity in the construction industry. Pultruded FRP profiles introduce a new world of construction that could prove to be a viable option to traditional structural materials. The use of pultruded FRP profiles in structures is discussed in this report. First a brief history of FRPs and their applications are addressed before explaining in detail the two main components of FRP; fibers and resin. The manufacturing process known as pultrusion and how two separate materials become one structural member is examined. As a result of pultrusion, engineers and designers can create structural profiles in customizable shapes, sizes, and strengths to suit any project and price. Theoretically, a pultruded FRP profile can be customized to different strengths within the geometrical and material bounds of the profile; however, many manufacturers publish data regarding mechanical and thermal properties along with allowable loads for their nominal profiles. Currently, there are no governing codes or guidelines for pultruded FRPs but there are design manuals and handbooks published by various committees and manufacturers so the design of pultruded FRP profiles is discussed. Ultimate and serviceability limit states are design concerns that engineers always deal with but concerns of heat or fire, chemical or corrosion, and moisture affect pultruded FRPs differently than steel or wood. Pultruded FRPs pose interesting design concerns because increased customizability and workability means the member can be tailored to meet the needs for that project but that would counter the benefit of mass-produced nominal sizes. A lack of uniform codes and standards inhibits the growth of the pultrusion industry in the United States but codes developed in Europe along with the development of specialized agencies and organizations could help gain a foothold. Lastly, a set of beams varying in length and load exhibit a side-by-side comparison to examine how pultruded FRPs match up next to traditional building materials. Although wood, steel, and reinforced concrete have been the preferred materials of construction, pultruded FRP structural shapes are gaining popularity for its economical and physical advantages, and advances in manufacturing and technology stand to usher in the widespread use of pultruded FRP profiles.

Na busca de materiais de baixa densidade, alta resistência e baixo custo, o processo de Filament Winding, ou Enrolamento Filamentar, surge como uma das opções de processo automatizado para a fabricação de componentes em materiais compósitos reforçados por fibras (FRP – Fiber Reinforced Polymers). Tendo uma ampla aplicação estrutural, o tipo de fibra, o tipo de matriz, a orientação das fibras, as camadas de reforço, o mandril a ser utilizado e a otimização da trajetória de deposição das fibras são características essenciais para obtenção de uma peça com as características desejadas no processo. Dentre as necessidades para a utilização deste processo, exerce um papel de destacada influência a geração dos dados da trajetória de deposição da fibra, bem como a geração dos dados operacionais do processo. Este trabalho tem por objetivos desenvolver um programa para a geração destes dados, bem como os dispositivos necessários para a execução do processo de Filament Winding em torno CNC comercial. Os dados das trajetórias são gerados de modo integrado ao sistema CAD, representados por meio dos ângulos das trajetórias, e são alimentados em um programa computacional desenvolvido para este fim, que gera o código CN para a fabricação da peça no equipamento. Para a execução deste código na máquina CNC, foram desenvolvidos sistema de fixação do mandril e alimentador da fibra (incluindo tensionador) que possibilitam a execução do processo neste tipo de equipamento. Todo o sistema desenvolvido foi implementado e utilizado para a confecção de tubos com diferentes trajetórias de preenchimento, validando o sistema computacional e o processo desenvolvido. / In the search of low density, high strength and low cost materials, Filament Winding seems to be an option of automated process to manufacture components in Composite Materials Reinforced by Fibers (FRP – Fiber Reinforced Polymers). Due to its large application in structural engineering, aspects such as fibers, matrices, fiber paths and laminate sequence are essential characteristics to obtain the desired final part. Among the requirements to use the Filament Winding Process, the definition of the fiber paths as well as the laminate sequence play fundamental roles in order to achieve the optimum structural performance of the composite part. This work aims to develop the necessary program to generate this data and devices required for the implementation of Filament Winding process in a commercial CNC machine tool. The data of the trajectories are generated in the CAD system, represented by the angles of the trajectories, and are fed in a computer program developed for this purpose, which generates the NC code for the manufacture of the part in the machine. In order to carried out this code in the CNC machine there were developed mandrel fixation system and fiber feeder (including tensioner were deverloped) that enable to wind the part in this type of equipment. The system developed has been implemented and used for the manufacture of tube parts with different fiber paths, validating the integrated system and the process developed.

Na busca de materiais de baixa densidade, alta resistência e baixo custo, o processo de Filament Winding, ou Enrolamento Filamentar, surge como uma das opções de processo automatizado para a fabricação de componentes em materiais compósitos reforçados por fibras (FRP – Fiber Reinforced Polymers). Tendo uma ampla aplicação estrutural, o tipo de fibra, o tipo de matriz, a orientação das fibras, as camadas de reforço, o mandril a ser utilizado e a otimização da trajetória de deposição das fibras são características essenciais para obtenção de uma peça com as características desejadas no processo. Dentre as necessidades para a utilização deste processo, exerce um papel de destacada influência a geração dos dados da trajetória de deposição da fibra, bem como a geração dos dados operacionais do processo. Este trabalho tem por objetivos desenvolver um programa para a geração destes dados, bem como os dispositivos necessários para a execução do processo de Filament Winding em torno CNC comercial. Os dados das trajetórias são gerados de modo integrado ao sistema CAD, representados por meio dos ângulos das trajetórias, e são alimentados em um programa computacional desenvolvido para este fim, que gera o código CN para a fabricação da peça no equipamento. Para a execução deste código na máquina CNC, foram desenvolvidos sistema de fixação do mandril e alimentador da fibra (incluindo tensionador) que possibilitam a execução do processo neste tipo de equipamento. Todo o sistema desenvolvido foi implementado e utilizado para a confecção de tubos com diferentes trajetórias de preenchimento, validando o sistema computacional e o processo desenvolvido. / In the search of low density, high strength and low cost materials, Filament Winding seems to be an option of automated process to manufacture components in Composite Materials Reinforced by Fibers (FRP – Fiber Reinforced Polymers). Due to its large application in structural engineering, aspects such as fibers, matrices, fiber paths and laminate sequence are essential characteristics to obtain the desired final part. Among the requirements to use the Filament Winding Process, the definition of the fiber paths as well as the laminate sequence play fundamental roles in order to achieve the optimum structural performance of the composite part. This work aims to develop the necessary program to generate this data and devices required for the implementation of Filament Winding process in a commercial CNC machine tool. The data of the trajectories are generated in the CAD system, represented by the angles of the trajectories, and are fed in a computer program developed for this purpose, which generates the NC code for the manufacture of the part in the machine. In order to carried out this code in the CNC machine there were developed mandrel fixation system and fiber feeder (including tensioner were deverloped) that enable to wind the part in this type of equipment. The system developed has been implemented and used for the manufacture of tube parts with different fiber paths, validating the integrated system and the process developed.

Using advanced composites, an emergency shelter system has been designed. The system parameters are hurricane resistance to 138 mph wind velocity, simple erection, light weight, high durability and rapid construction. The project involves the solicitation of design proposals from several building system manufacturers and the development of an optimized emergency shelter system. The usage is well suited to pultruded members made from fiber reinforced polymers (FRP). Due to the anisotropic nature of FRP composites, a limited amount of research has been conducted to develop design optimization techniques for panels used in construction. This project allows for the development of optimization techniques for use in pultruded FRP panel members. The Project consisted of a detailed literature review conducted of emergency building industry to assess the validity of existing shelter systems, a state of the art review of connection design in FRP structures with an emphasis on non-standard types of connectors (ie...snap type), systemic structural optimization of emergency shelter for building geometry, roof configuration, foundation anchorage and building envelope, development of statistical methods for evaluation of viable existing emergency shelter systems. Subsequent to the initial phase of the investigation, an interlocking FRP composite panel system was developed. The system was analyzed for local buckling, first ply failure and global deflection criteria using modified equations originally developed for open section members. The results were verified using Finite Element Methods analysis software. The findings from the study indicate the need for a second phase in which the most promising available systems and the concept developed are fully tested to verify their capacity to withstand high wind forces including impact of wind borne debris.

There are over 602,000 bridges in the United States, of which 12.5% are classified as functionally obsolete and 11.2% are structurally deficient. The functionally obsolete bridges will require expansion or replacement to increase the service capacity of the bridge. The structurally deficient bridges will either need remediation of the load carrying elements which are damaged or deteriorated or will need to be replaced completely. Replacement of the bridges means new construction; new construction means better design and quality assurance to meet the 100+ year service life requirement in place now. Rehabilitation of bridges will require better design and quality assurance to increase the current service life of the structure. This dissertation presents new design, testing, and repair methods developed to extend the life of new and existing bridges through pressure grouting, thermal integrity testing of drilled shafts, and the bond enhancement of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) repair materials bonded to concrete with vacuum bagging and pressure bagging, respectively. Pressure grouting of drilled shaft tips has been used for over five decades to improve the end bearing capacity, but no rational design procedure had ever been published until this study. The research outlined in this dissertation analyzed nine grouted shafts and compared them to standard design procedures to determine the improvement in end bearing. Improvements ranged from 60% to 709% increase in end bearing capacity. From these improvements, a design procedure was developed for pressure grouted drilled shafts. Post construction inspection of drilled shafts relies largely on non-visual techniques dealing with measured concrete quantities, acoustic wave speed or frequency, gamma radiation attenuation and now the internal temperature of the curing concrete. Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP), developed at USF, utilizes the heat of hydration of curing concrete to evaluate the concrete cover, foundation shape, cage alignment, and concrete mix design performance. This research developed standard test equipment and procedures for thermal integrity testing. Comparing the results of the different types of integrity tests is difficult due to the varied nature of the different tests. The dissertation looked at various shafts constructed across the nation which were tested with thermal and at least one other integrity test method. When compared to acoustic and gamma radiation test results, TIP agreed with 4 of 6 cases for acoustic and 2 of 5 cases using gamma radiation. In the one case were both sonic caliper and inclination data were available, TIP showed good agreement. Vacuum bagging and pressure bagging are techniques for improving the FRP-concrete bond in the repair of partially submerged piles. Prototype vacuum bagging and pressure bagging systems were developed and bond improvement assessed from results of pullout tests on full size piles repaired under simulated tidal exposures in the laboratory. Pressure bagging gave better bond and was found to be simpler because it did not require an airtight seal. A field demonstration project was conducted in which pressure bagging was used in combination with two different glass FRP systems to repair two corroding piles supporting the Friendship Trails Bridge across Tampa Bay. Inspection of the post-cured wrap showed no evidence of air voids.

La necesidad de refuerzo estructural en una infraestructura existente puede venir motivada por la aparición de nuevos condicionantes de uso o por la degradación de los materiales. Desde finales de los años sesenta, la técnica del refuerzo mediante la adhesión de platabandas metálicas se ha llevado a la práctica como alternativa a otros métodos de refuerzo tradicionales. Sin embargo, las platabandas metálicas presentan algunas desventajas, como son su peso y su posible corrosión por agentes atmosféricos, que pueden solventarse sustituyéndolas por laminados de polímeros reforzados con fibras (FRP). Estos materiales poseen relaciones resistencia/peso y rigidez/peso mayores que el acero, facilitando su colocación, reduciendo costes y plazos de ejecución.En numerosos estudios empíricos se observa como la aplicación de laminados encolados puede resultar en una rotura frágil que conduce al desprendimiento prematuro del refuerzo antes de alcanzar la carga última.El principal objetivo de este trabajo es el desarrollo de un método simple y efectivo para dimensionar y comprobar el refuerzo de estructuras existentes con laminados adheridos de tal forma que se eviten los modos prematuros de rotura que conducen al desprendimiento del laminado. Se ha dedicado especial atención a la transferencia de tensiones de laminado a hormigón que resulta el punto clave del correcto comportamiento de este tipo de refuerzo.En el Capítulo 2, tras una revisión histórica de las líneas de investigación existentes, experimentales y teóricas, se ha evaluado mediante una base de datos experimental la fiabilidad de los modelos teóricos existentes para pronosticar y prevenir los modos de rotura prematuros antes mencionados. Esta base de datos experimental incluye resultados de la literatura existente y de una campaña experimental llevada a cabo por el autor en el Laboratorio de Tecnología de Estructuras de la Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña.Para resolver las deficiencias de los modelos teóricos existentes, en el Capítulo 3, se ha aplicado la teoría de la Mecánica de Fractura No Lineal a un caso de corte puro para modelizar el comportamiento de la interfase y sus roturas prematuras. Se han obtenido las distribuciones de tensiones en la interfase y en el laminado junto a la fuerza máxima transferida en función de tres parámetros (energía de fractura, máxima tensión tangencial y deslizamiento asociado a dicha tensión).La formulación de un caso de corte puro se ha extendido a un caso general de una viga bajo cargas transversales en el Capítulo 4. Se ha estudiado la evolución del desprendimiento del laminado en dos casos específicos: un elemento entre dos fisuras contiguas, y un elemento entre el extremo del laminado y la siguiente fisura. Se han obtenido las distribuciones de tensiones para las distintas fases del proceso. Cabe mencionar que la fuerza transferida entre dos fisuras alcanza su máximo valor cuando la tensión tangencial máxima llega a la fisura menos cargada. En este instante, ya se puede haber iniciado o no la formación de una macrofisura. El elemento entre el extremo del laminado y la siguiente fisura es similar al caso de corte puro.Las distribuciones de tensiones presentadas en el Capítulo 4 nos ayudan a comprender el comportamiento de un elemento reforzado con laminados adheridos en su cara traccionada, sin embargo, resultan complejas en la práctica. En el Capítulo 5 se describe un nuevo método de dimensionamiento y verificación basado en la obtención de una relación entre el máximo cortante antes de que se produzca el desprendimiento prematuro del refuerzo y el momento aplicado. Esta relación está asociada a la fuerza máxima transferida entre fisuras. A partir de la predicción del valor máximo de cortante, se verifica el desprendimiento del extremo del laminado evaluando la fuerza transferida entre dicho punto y la siguiente fisura. Se ha verificado la fiabilidad de esta propuesta mediante la base de datos de ensayos a flexión.Finalmente, en el Capítulo 6 se resumen las principales conclusiones del trabajo presentado en esta tesis y se sugieren futuras líneas de investigación. / The strengthening of aging infrastructures is in most cases required because of the necessity for increased levels of service loads or because of the degradation of structural materials. The technique of strengthening by externally bonding steel plates has been in practice since the late 1960's. However, steel plates present some disadvantages in terms of weight and corrosion that can be solved by replacing them with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates. FRP laminates provide benefits such as high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios, corrosion resistance as well as reduced installation costs due to their easy-handling.Existing experimental work has shown that the application of externally bonded laminates can result in a catastrophic brittle failure in the form of a premature debonding of the laminate before reaching the design load.The main aim of this research has been the development of a simple effective method to design and verify the strengthening of an existing structure with an externally bonded plate while preventing the premature peeling failure that causes the laminate to debond. Special attention has been drawn on to transfer of stresses from laminate to concrete through the interface, which is the main key in the correct performance of externally reinforced concrete structures.After a historical overview of the existing experimental and theoretical lines of research, the suitability of using existing theoretical models to forecast and prevent peeling failures is evaluated in Chapter 2 by means of an experimental bending test database. This database includes results from the existing literature and results from an experimental program conducted by the author at the Structural Technology Laboratory of the Technical University of Catalonia.To solve the weaknesses of the existing theoretical models, in Chapter 3, Non-Linear Fracture Mechanics theory is applied in a pure shear case to model the interface behavior and its premature failures. The stress distributions, together with the maximum transferred force are obtained as a function of three model parameters (the fracture energy, the maximum shear stress and the sliding associated to this stress).The formulae of a pure shear specimen are then extended to a general case of a beam under transverse loads in Chapter 4. For this purpose, the evolution of the debonding process is studied for two specific cases: a beam element between two cracks, and a beam element between the laminate end and the nearest crack. The stress distributions are obtained for the different stages observed in the debonding process. A specific highlight observed was that the transferred force between cracks is at maximum when the maximum shear stress reaches the less-loaded crack. In this instance, a macrocrack may or may not have already initiated. Another point observed is related to the beam element between the laminate end and the nearest crack, which is similar to the pure shear specimen.The stress distributions derived in Chapter 4 allow us to understand the behavior of an externally reinforced element, but are awkward for design purposes. Chapter 5 describes both a new design and verification method based on a maximum shear force-bending moment relationship associated to the theoretical maximum transferred force between two consecutive cracks before peeling occurs. After calculating the predicted value for the maximum shear force from the peeling relationship, the developed method verifies the debonding at the laminate end by checking the transferred force between the laminate end and the first crack in the laminate. The reliability of this proposal is verified by means of the assembled bending test database.Finally, the main conclusions drawn from the work presented in this dissertation are summarized in Chapter 6. Future work and research lines are suggested as well.

Fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) have gained increasing popularity in upgrades of reinforced structural elements due to high strength to weight ratio and ease of application. In this study, the effectiveness of the carbon reinforced polymer wrapping (CFRP) on ductility and strength of circular reinforced concrete columns, made of low strength concrete, is presented. Four circular reinforced columns with similar dimensions, longitudinal and confining steel reinforcement were tested under combined axial load and bending moment. Three specimens were strengthened with CFRP and the results were compared with the control specimen. The main parameter of the experimental study was selected as the level of eccentricity. First of all, the strain profiles of FRPs in the circumferential direction were observed and the confining stress distributions were examined. Then, an axial stress-strain model for FRP confined concrete with a transition from softening to hardening response for different confinement ratios is proposed. The proposed model was verified by comparing the model estimations with the test results obtained from this study and results reported by other researches. In addition, a parametric study was presented to obtain a simple equation to estimate curvature ductility of FRP confined circular columns.