After 17 and 15years of use, respectively, a detailed inspection of a pedestrian bridge and a 5-story building structure composed of partly adhesively bonded pultruded glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) profiles was conducted accompanied by full-scale serviceability and destructive coupon testing on exchangeable profiles. The bridge is exposed to a harsh Alpine climate and the building to a mild plateau climate. The system and material stiffness of the bridge remained unchanged during the 17years. The material strength of the bridge, however, was significantly affected by combined freeze-thaw cycles and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The latter accelerated the strength degradation by uncovering the fibers (fiber blooming) and thus inducing humidity ingress into the material by wicking effects. A large majority of the small-area adhesive bonds in the bridge were intact, although a few small cracks were observed in some joints at the surface. The large-area bonds of the building did not show any damage. Based on results of the inspection of the bridge, the application of an appropriate coating on pultruded GFRP structures exposed to harsh environments is recommended. (C) 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
#1Michael Osei-Antwi(EPFL: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)H-Index: 6
#2Julia de Castro(EPFL: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)H-Index: 15
Last. Thomas Keller(EPFL: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)H-Index: 45
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The span limits of two glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bridge concepts involving GFRP-balsa sandwich plates are discussed. The sandwich plates were either used directly as slab bridges or as decks of a hybrid sandwich-steel girder bridges. In the latter case, the potential of the sandwich decks to replace reinforced concrete (RC) decks was also evaluated. Taking the limits of manufacturing into account (800 mm slab thickness), maximum bridge spans of approximately 19 m can be reached with ...
#1Guglielmo Carra(Polytechnic University of Milan)H-Index: 3
#2Valter Carvelli(Polytechnic University of Milan)H-Index: 23
Abstract This paper presents an experimental research on the durability of pultruded Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) composites applied in building construction. Three different matrices have been used with E-glass fibres: isophthalic polyester, orthophthalic polyester and vinylester. The degradation of the mechanical and aesthetical performance of the composites has been monitored through a process of accelerated artificial ageing in a climatic chamber, simulating the combined effect of h...
This chapter provides an overview of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Operating since 1947, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a nongovernmental association consisting of representatives from over 150 countries, one member per country. The increased credibility associated with ISO certification leads to many advantages that include decreased operating expenses stemming from scrap and rework, and enhanced management control through management revi...
This paper presents the results of an experimental study about the durability of E-glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) pultruded profiles when exposed to environmental degradation agents. Small-scale coupons obtained from commercial GFRP profiles, made of either unsaturated polyester or vinylester resins, were exposed to natural ageing in the city centre of Lisbon, an urban Mediterranean environment, during 42 months (3.5 years) and to artificial accelerated ageing in a Q-Lab Ultraviolet accel...
Last. Behzad D. Manshadi(EPFL: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)H-Index: 7
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The feasibility of encapsulating solar cells into the glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) skins of load-bearing and thermally insulating sandwich elements with foam cores has been evaluated. Exposure of the encapsulated cells to artificial sunlight led to a significant temperature increase on the top sandwich surface, which almost reached the glass transition temperature of the resin. Mechanical loading up to serviceability limit loads did not cause any damage to the solar cells. Stresses of l...
As civil engineers seek to improve buildings and bridges, they are turning to composite materials for some structural components. Thus the long-term life of these materials in damp highly acidic conditions (from concrete pore solutions) is critical. This article presents a study of moisture ingression and damage in a pultruded compression element under exposure to pore solution. The goal was to experimentally find the orthotropic diffusion coefficients for pore solution in the composite material...
#1Thomas Keller(EPFL: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)H-Index: 45
#2Christoph Haas(EPFL: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)H-Index: 1
Last. Till Vallée(EPFL: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)H-Index: 23
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This paper reports on the design and construction of a lightweight glass fiber-reinforced polymer roof structure in Basel, Switzerland. The sandwich construction allowed for an integration of static, building physical and architectural functions that enabled the prefabrication of the entire roof in only four lightweight elements that were easily transported to the site and rapidly installed. Cutting of foam blocks with a computerized numerical control machine and adhesive bonding proved to be ad...
#1Thomas Keller(EPFL: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)H-Index: 45
#2Yu Bai(EPFL: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)H-Index: 69
Last. Till Vallée(EPFL: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)H-Index: 23
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In the summer of 2005, after eight years of use as a temporary bridge during the winter, the Pontresina Bridge for pedestrians was transported to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne for a detailed assessment of the structural safety, serviceability, and long-term durability of the bridge. The assessment included a visual inspection, quasistatic testing identical to that performed in 1997, and detailed investigations of material degradation. The visual inspection showed a variety o...
#1João R. Correia(Technical University of Lisbon)H-Index: 34
#2S. Cabral-Fonseca(Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil)H-Index: 11
Last. M. P. Rodrigues(Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil)H-Index: 3
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Results of an experimental research into the physical, chemical, mechanical, and aesthetical changes suffered by pultruded glass-fiber-reinforced polyester profiles during their testing for accelerated aging under the action of moisture, temperature, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation are presented. The profiles were submitted to the influence of four different exposure environments: (i) in an immersion chamber, (ii) in a condensation chamber, (iii) in a QUV accelerated weathering apparatus, and (iv...
#1Sreenivas Alampalli(New York State Department of Transportation)H-Index: 18
Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite decks are new to bridge applications and hence not much literature exists on their in-service performance. The in-service performance, and impact and dynamic characteristics of the first fiber reinforced polymer composite bridge superstructure built in New York State in late 1998 are documented in this paper. Test data indicate that the superstructure and the shear-key are structurally performing well. The average impact factor was about 0.3. Observed low...
#2Luigi Granata(UNISA: University of Salerno)H-Index: 1
Last. Carlo Naddeo(UNISA: University of Salerno)H-Index: 23
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Abstract Adhesive durability and joint reliability, strictly related to the bonding agents, are key parameters still under evaluation in civil as well as in other engineering fields. Moisture, different environmental agents and temperature (in particular) can strongly affect the performance of the adhesive joints over the time limiting their applicability. The environmental temperature may exceed the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the adhesive formulation entailing relevant changes in its ...
Abstract The present study aims at studying the long-term behaviour of composites (GFRP) subjected to permanent bending. The specificity of this study largely rests on the original conditions of in situ ageing of the specimens within an experimental structure of elastic gridshell, built in 2006 and disassembled in 2014. This prototype was made of rectilinear tubes which were elastically deformed into a 3D stable shape. The structural members constituted hence a unique set of relaxation tests in ...
The review analyzes the influence of the significant factors of action of various climatic zones on the deformation–strength characteristics of polymer composite materials. The generalized index of aging is shown to depend on the exposure conditions and time, the physicochemical transformations in materials, temperature, the nature of reinforcing filler, the presence of sorbed moisture, and methodological measurement errors.
Abstract This study investigates the effect of Thermal cycles on the mechanical properties of GFRP pultruded profiles with different geometries. Bending specimens consisted of I-shaped and U-channel profiles that were tested in three-point bending along their both principal weak and strong axes, whereas box profiles and laminates were used in compression and tension tests, respectively. Each specimen was exposed to a range of thermal cycles, between −20 °C and 20 °C. The failure modes of the pro...
Abstract Hybrid bonded-riveted joint was designed for connecting CFRP and aluminum lightweight materials used for automotive structures. The mechanical performance of hybrid joints under a wide range of temperatures from -30 to 100 °C was extensively investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis was firstly applied to determine the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polyurethane adhesive and CFRP materials, as Tg value is very important for further understanding the effect of ...
#2Hamed Ashrafi(International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology)H-Index: 11
Last. Yu Bai(Monash University, Clayton campus)H-Index: 69
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The present study indicates the importance of using glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) laminates with appropriate thickness and fibers orientation when exposed to harsh environmental conditions. The effect of different environmental conditions on tensile properties of different GFRP laminates is investigated. Laminates were exposed to three environmental conditions: (1) Freeze/thaw cycles without the presence of moisture, (2) freeze/thaw cycles with the presence of moisture and (3) UV radiati...
Abstract Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have become known for their specific advantages for civil infrastructure construction. High corrosion resistance in particular is one such strength, which has led to successful applications worldwide. This paper focuses on the structural applications of FRP composites as major load-carrying members (therefore strengthening of existing structures is not included) in aggressive environments. It is review and comparatively studied for environmental...
Abstract This paper presents an experimental testing of a pultruded glass fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) structure used for emergency applications continuing the discussion presented in a previous paper (part 1) where the study of the characteristics of material and elements are presented. First, the design of the composite structure and components and the evaluation of the structural behavior by means of numerical and analytical approach according to current regulatory codes are described. In t...
#2João R. Correia(IST: Instituto Superior Técnico)H-Index: 34
Last. Thomas Keller(EPFL: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)H-Index: 45
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Abstract This paper presents an experimental and numerical study about the durability of adhesively bonded joints between pultruded glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) adherends for civil engineering applications. Single lap joint (SLJ) specimens were manufactured using either epoxy (EP) or polyurethane (PUR) adhesives and exposed to the following hygrothermal and outdoor ageing conditions for up to 730 days: water and salt water immersion at 20 °C and 40 °C, continuous condensation at 40 °C, ...
Last. Luciano Feo(UNISA: University of Salerno)H-Index: 47
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Abstract The results of geometrically nonlinear analyses on 43 built-up Pultruded Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (PFRP) columns with closely spaced chords and intermittent interconnections are presented. A comparison between columns with the end sections entirely loaded and columns loaded at the end battens only is reported, showing no appreciable difference in the P -δ response. The effects due to variations of column length and battens spacing are then investigated. It is found that stocky columns w...
