1. FRP Composite Applications and Code Developments
in the Construction Industry
KSCE International Symposium
Good afternoon! Ladies and gentlemen. My name Jin Ook Kang, and I am working for Samsung Engineering and Construction Company.
It is my great honor to have a presentation about the emerging FRP technology issues in front of you.
My presentation will be a brief introduction to the FRP composite applications and code developments in the construction industry as you see in the title.
I may need your excuse if there is any overlapped contents with the other presentations.
Kang, Jin Ook, Lee, Myeong Sub, Kim, Jae Kwon
Civil Engineering Technology Team
Samsung Engineering & Construction

2. Contents Introduction of FRP Composites FRP Composite Applications
* FRP Structural Shapes
* FRP Highway Bridges
* FRP Internal Reinforcements
* FRP External Reinforcements
* FRP Miscellaneous Applications
Codes and Design Guides
Conclusion
My presentation will proceed as follows:
First, introduction of FRP composite materials will be presented
And their applications will be discussed on FRP structural shapes, highway bridges, internal reinforcements, external reinforcements, and other miscellaneous applications.
Then, codes and design guides,
Finally, conclusion will be followed.

3. What is FRP Composites? Composite Materials Clay Mixed with Straw
- used for construction of bricks, roofs, walls in the past
Concrete Mixed with Steel Fibers or Glass Fibers
- being developed at present as high performance material
Fiber Reinforced Polymers
- the advanced composite material concerned in this presentation
- consists of
Composite Materials
Composite materials such as clay mixed with straw were used for the construction of bricks, roofs, and walls in the past,
And concrete mixed with steel fibers or glass fibers are being developed at present as high performance material.
The composite material concerned in this presentation is fiber reinforced polymer materials.
The material consists of fiber reinforcements of glass fibers, aramid fibers, or carbon fibers, resin material, fillers, and additives.
Fiber reinforcements (Glass, Aramid, Carbon fibers)
Resin
Fillers
Additives

4. FRP Advantages and Disadvantages
High Strength
High Corrosion Resistance
High Durability
Light Weight
Ease Handling and Erection
Disadvantages:
High Initial Cost
Potential for Environmental Degradation (Alkalis’ Attack, UV Radiation Exposure, Moisture Absorption, etc.)
Creep
Lack of Standards and Design Guides
Limited Connection Technology
There are many advantages in using FRP composite materials in the construction industry such as ~.
However, we also have disadvantages of ~.

5. FRP Fibers and Resins FRP composite’s main elements Fibers: Resins:
Load Bearing Elements in composites
Glass, Aramid, Carbon fibers are commonly used
Show a Linear Elastic Behavior up-to Failure
Rupture Failure
Resins:
Protect Fibers from environments
Provide Dimensional Stability for composite components
Transfer Loads to fibers
Polyester, Epoxy, Vinylester are most popular ones
Polyesters  affordable cost benefit,
Epoxy  high performance advantage, high cost, and
Vinylesters  excellent corrosion resistance.
Thermosets  cures permanently by irreversible cross linking at elevated temp.
FRP composite’s main elements are fibers and resins.
Fibers are load bearing elements in composites. Glass, aramid, and carbon fibers are commonly used in the construction industry.
They show a linear elastic behavior up-to failure, and rupture failure.
Resins are to protect fibers from environments. And they provide dimensional stability for composite components and transfer loads to fibers.
Among the resins, polyester, epoxy, vinylester are most popular ones in the construction industry. Polyesters have affordable cost benefit, epoxy has high performance advantage but high cost. Vinylester has excellent corrosion resistance.
These resins are mostly theromosets that cure permanently by irreversible cross linking at elevated temperature.

6. FRP Additives and Fillers
Additives and Fillers have very small volume ratio in FRP composites, but
They have special purposes and various types.
Additives:
Improve Material Properties
Improve Aesthetics
Enhance Workability
Improve Performance
Catalysts
Promoters
Inhibitors
Coloring Dyes
Antistatic Agents
Foaming Agents
Fillers:
Reduce Composite Cost
Improve Mechanical Properties
Improve Chemical Properties
Reduce Creep & Shrinkage
Improve Fire Retardance & Chemical Resistance
Calcium Carbonate
Kaolin
Alumina Trihydrate
Silica, Glass
Additives and fillers have very small volume ratio in FRP composites, but they have their own special purposes and various types.
For example, additives are to ~. And additive types have ~.
Fillers are to ~. And filler types include ~.

7. FRP Mechanical Properties
PC Strand
Steel Rebar SG fu E eu
Relaxation a
AntiCorrosion
NonMagnetic
As you see in the table, FRP material’s weight is very small compared to steel, almost one-fifth of steel.
And ultimate strength of CFRP is almost the same as PC strand. And GFRP’s ultimate strength is greater than the steel rebar.
However the modulus and ultimate strain of FRP composite is a lot smaller than steel.
These properties should be carefully considered in the design.
FRPs’ weight: very small compared to steel, almost 1/5 of steel.
CFRP’s ultimate strength: the same as PC strand.
GFRP’s ultimate strength: greater than the steel rebar.
Modulus and ultimate strain of FRP composite: a lot smaller than steel

8. FRP Applications
FRP composites can be applied to various industries including
Industrial & Defense:
Pressure Vessels
Submarine Parts
Rocket Shells
Aircraft Components
Automobile Bodies & Parts
Recreational:
Fishing Rods
Tennis Rackets
Ski Equipment
Golf Clubs
Recreation Boats
Domestic:
Bath Tubs
Railings
Housing Components
Ladders
Electrical Equipment
Construction:
Buildings
Pedestrian Bridges
Highway Bridges
Repair & Strengthening
Others
FRP composites can be applied to various industries including industrial and defense, recreational, domestic, construction.
In the construction industry, the FRP composites can be applied for the construction of buildings, bridges, repair and strengthening of existing structures, and others.
These application cases in the construction industry are our concerns and will be discussed in the following slides.

9. FRP Structural Shapes FRP structural shapes have been developed and
used in a number of industries
since the late 1970s.
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Standard GFRP Structural Shapes of Prismatic Cross Sections
&
FRP Connections of Bolts and Nuts
FRP structural shapes have been developed and used in a number of industries since the late 1970s.
This figure shows standard GFRP structural shapes of prismatic cross-sections and FRP connections of bolts and nuts.
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10. FRP Structural Shapes (Pultrusion)
Manufacturing
Pultrusion Process
Resin impregnated fibers are pulled through
a forming die,
cut to a desired length,
cured for a period of time
Fiber reinforcements
Roving fibers
Continuous Strand Mat (CSM)
Surface veils
Glass fibers are common due to low cost
Volume ratios are 35% ~ 50%
Woven, braided, stitched fiber reinforcements
under development to improve 3D properties
The FRP structural shapes are generally manufactured by Pultrusion process. In the process, resin impregnated fibers are pulled through a forming die, cut to a desired length, and cured for a period of time.
Fiber reinforcements for the manufacturing consist of roving fibers, continuous strand mat, and surface veils. And glass fibers are common due to low cost, and their volume fractions are typically in the range of 35~50%. In recent years, woven, braided, and stitched fiber reinforcements have been under development to improve the 3D mechanical properties of the FRP shapes.
The polyester and vinylester thermoset resins are generally used in the production.
Resin
Polyester and Vinylester thermoset resins are
generally used

11. FRP Structural Shapes (Pedestrian Bridges)
Many pedestrian bridges have been constructed using the pultruded FRP structural shapes throughout the Europe and the United States.
                                 
Pedestrian bridge at Strandhuse, Kolding, Denmark
Many pedestrian bridges have been constructed using the pultruded FRP structural shapes throughout the Europe and the United States.
This figure shows a 40m long cable-stayed Bridge built over a heavy railway in 1997 in Kolding, Denmark.
The bridge was built GFRP decking system, towers, and cables, and built in a very short time of 18 hours mainly due to the lightness of FRP composite materials.
40m long cable-stayed Bridge
Over a heavy railway in 1997 in Kolding, Denmark.
GFRP decking system, tower, and cables
In a short time of 18 hours due to the lightness of FRP composites

12. FRP Structural Shapes (Buildings)
Pultruded FRP structural shapes have also been used in building construction.
Five-story residential/office building
Named Eyecatcher Building
Built with Fiberline GFRP structural components
in Switzerland, in 1999
Main components made by epoxy bonding of
standard sections of I shapes, channels, and plates.
Bolt connections used to ease disassembling.
The Eyecatcher building in Basle, Switzerland
Pultruded FRP structural shapes have also been used in building construction.
This figure shows a five-story residential/office building, named Eyecatcher Building. The building was built with Fiberline GFRP structural components in Switzerland, in 1999.
The main components of the building were made by epoxy bonding of standard sections of I shapes, channels, and plates. And bolt connections were used to ease disassembling.
Among the structures, other than buildings and bridges, which adopt the FRP structural shapes in construction include transmission towers, light poles, guardrails, cooling towers, and etc.
Among the structures, other than bridges and buildings, which adopt the FRP structural shapes in construction include
Transmission towers, light poles, guardrails, cooling towers, and etc.

13. FRP Structural Shapes (Research)
Only a few of research works on the FRP structural shapes have been done since the early 1990s until the ASCE began publishing a number of research papers on the topics through the Journal of Composites for Construction in 1997.
Experimental Setups
To get mechanical properties
of FRP structural shapes
Tension
Compression
Out-of-plane flexure
In-plane shear
Tension
Compression
Only a few of research works on the pultruded FRP structural shapes have been done since the early 1990s until the ASCE began publishing a number of research papers on the topics through the Journal of Composites for Construction in 1997.
These pictures show an example of experimental setups to get the mechanical properties of FRP structural shapes. This shows a setup for tension properties. ~ for compression ~ for out-of-plane flexure and for in-plane shear.
Flexure
Shear

14. FRP Structural Shapes (Research)
Column Creep
Test Setup
On-going research topics include not only the mechanical properties but also
Chemical attack,
Ultraviolet exposure,
Water absorption,
Creeps,
Dynamic behavior,
Connection behavior,
and so on
Bolted Connection
Test Setup
On-going research topics include not only the mechanical properties but also the chemical attack, ultraviolet exposure, water absorption, creeps, dynamic behavior, connection behavior, and so on.
This pictures show experimental setup examples for the connection behavior, flexure creep and environmental exposure, and column creep of FRP shapes.
Flexure Creep and
Environmental Exposure
Test Setup

15. FRP Highway Bridge Decks
In the past few years, FRP bridge decks have received a great deal of attention from the bridge construction industry due to their
Advantages
Light weight and less seismic loads
High corrosion resistance and endurance
Fast installation
High strength
www. martinmarietta.com
In the past few years, FRP bridge decks have received a great deal of attention from the bridge construction industry due to their advantages of light weight and less seismic loads, high corrosion resistance and endurance, fast installation, and high strength compared to traditional concrete decks.
In the manufacturing of FRP decks, glass fibers and polyester resin are used for their low cost benefit, while vinylester resin is preferred rather than polyester for severe environments.
Research works are being carried out in the following topics. Those are codes and standards preparation; connection development, investigation on dynamic and fatigue behavior, and surface overlay development.
This picture shows an installation of FRP bridge deck made by martin marietta company.
Manufacturing
Glass fibers and Polyester resin
used for their low cost benefit
Vinylester resin is preferred
for severe environments.
Research Works
being carried out in the following topics
Codes and Standards preparation
Connection development
Investigation on dynamic and fatigue behavior
Surface overlay development

16. FRP Highway Bridge Decks
Recently, Korean researchers also developed a number of FRP bridge deck systems.
GFRP bridge deck system developed by Ji et al.
10m long x 8.0m wide, on a local highway
Corrugated webs formed by hand lay-up of fiber
sheets and bonded by plates at the top and bottom
Vinylester resin system
Designed for DB24 and tested at site after
installation
Ji et al. (2002)
KCI developed a GFRP bridge deck system
named DeltaDeck
formed by connecting Pultruded Trapezoidal
Tube Sections side by side
Vinylester resin system
Composite & Noncomposite
Installed at site and tested
Recently, Korea Researchers also developed a number of FRP bridge deck systems.
This figure shows a GFRP bridge deck system developed by Ji et al.. The deck was 10m long and 8.0m wide, built on a local highway. The corrugated webs was formed by hand lay-up of fiber sheets and bonded by plates at the top and bottom. And Vinylester resin was used in the manufacturing. The bridge was designed for DB24 and tested at site after installation.
KookminCI, a Korean institute, also developed a GFRP bridge deck system, named DeltaDeck. The deck system is formed by connecting pultruded trapezoidal tube sections side by side. Glass fibers and vinylester resin system were used in the manufacturing.
KCI (Kookmin CI)

17. FRP Internal Reinforcements
History
FRP reinforcements have been developed since the early 1960s,
Research & applications have increased markedly since the 1980s
Fiber Types
E-glass FRP rebars generally adopted for RC applications due to low cost
Carbon and Aramid FRP tendons preferred for PC applications for their
high strength and low relaxation characteristics
Potential Applications
Bridge slabs
Magnetic transparent buildings
Chemical plants
Offshore structures
Surface Treatments
on the reinforcements to improve the bond strength
Forming fiber reinforced ribs
Bonding fine aggregates
Technora (Karbhari, 1998)
FRP reinforcements have been developed since the early 1960s, and their research and applications have increased markedly since the 1980s.
E-glass FRP rebars are generally adopted for Reinforced Concrete applications due to their relatively low cost benefit, whereas carbon and aramid FRP tendons are preferred for Prestressed Concrete applications for their relatively high strength and low relaxation characteristics. This figure shows sample products of FRP rebars and tendons.
Potential applications of the FRP reinforcements are bridge slabs, magnetic transparent buildings, chemical plants, and offshore structures.
Surface treatments on the reinforcement bars are to improve the bond strength at the interface between the FRP bars and concrete. The treatments can be fiber reinforced ribs or bonding fine aggregates on the surface of the reinforcement bars.

18. FRP Internal Reinforcements
FRP reinforcements
Made of homogeneous longitudinal fibers
Show linear elastic behavior up to failure
low ductility than steel
Hybrid FRP reinforcements
With different ultimate strains
being developed to
Relieve the brittle failure
Provide higher ductility
Ultimate strength approach
Generally adopted for the design of FRP reinforced concrete structure
Serviceability limit criteria usually controls due to low modulus of FRP reinforcement
The criteria includes Deflections, Cracks, Fatigue, Relaxation
Failure modes
Concrete sections with small FRP reinforcements are likely to
fail by FRP tensile rupture
With large FRP reinforcements, they are likely to
undergo Concrete crushing at the compression side
Over-reinforced section with the confinement of compression zone is more desirable
due to improved ductility and energy absorption capacity
FRP reinforcements are generally made of homogeneous longitudinal fibers, and they show a linear elastic behavior up to failure and low ductility than steel reinforcements. Hybrid FRP reinforcements with different ultimate strains are being developed to relieve the brittle failure and provide higher ductility.
Ultimate strength approach is generally adopted for the design of FRP reinforced concrete structure. In the FRP reinforced concrete design, serviceability limit criteria usually controls due to relatively low elastic modulus of the FRP reinforcements, The criteria includes deflections, cracks, fatigue, and relaxation.
Concrete sections with small FRP reinforcements are likely to fail by FRP tensile rupture, whereas with large amount of reinforcements they are likely to undergo concrete crushing at the compression side. Thus over-reinforced concrete section with the confinement of compression zone is considered more desirable due to improved ductility and energy absorption capacity.

19. FRP Internal Reinforcements
FRP Tendons
Anisotropic characteristic of FRP material
Anchorage behavior and development are important concerns in the reserch
Two common anchorage types
FRP tendons have anisotropic characteristic of FRP material, therefore anchorage behavior and development are important concerns in the research.
There are two common anchorage types. One is wedge type of mechanical gripping and the other is grout type with adhesive bonding.
Wedge type
(Mechanical Gripping)
Grout type
(Adhesive Bonding)

20. FRP Internal Reinforcements
Section Geometry of Hisho Bridge
Overall View of Hisho Bridge

21. FRP External Reinforcements
The use of FRP material as external reinforcements has grown greatly in the past decade.
Slab Strengthening
Applications & Advantages
Strengthening and retrofit of
Beams, slabs, columns in Buildings and Bridges
High strength, lightness, corrosion resistance
ease of application
Types and Constituents
- plates, sheets, grids
Carbon fibers used for reinforcements
 high modulus and strength
Epoxy resin used for the bonding
 high performance
Orientation and lay-up thick. of FRP layers
can be adjusted to meet the mechanical
requirements
Tunnel Lining Strengthening
The use of FRP material as external reinforcements have grown greatly in the past decade.
Their applications are strengthening and retrofit of beams, slabs, columns in buildings and bridges. They have advantages of high strength, lightness, corrosion resistance, ease of application, compared to conventional material.
The reinforcement’s types have plates, sheets, and grids. Carbon fibers are generally used for the reinforcements because of their high modulus and high strength properties. Epoxy resins is typically used in the bonding of the FRP sheets and plates because of its high performance properties. In the FRP strengthening, the orientation and lay-up thickness of FRP layers can be adjusted to meet the specific mechanical requirements.

22. FRP External Reinforcements
Flexural Strengthening
- of RC Beams and Slabs
- by FRP external reinforcements
- obtained by Epoxy bonding of FRP sheets or plates to the tension side
Possible failure modes
- FRP fracture after yielding of steel reinforcements
- Concrete compressive crushing after steel yielding
- FRP peeling-off due to inclined shear cracks in the concrete
- FRP local debonding due to improper surface treatment and bonding
In general, the actual failure occurs in a combination of the failure modes mentioned above.
Bond performance
in the FRP strengthening
degrades rapidly beyond Tg (glass transition temperature) of epoxy adhesives
Tg for epoxy is in the range of 180 F (82 C) and 200 F (93 C)
FRP flexural strengthening of RC beams and slabs by FRP external reinforcements is obtained by epoxy bonding of FRP sheets or plates to the tension side of the beams and slabs.
Possible failure modes for the flexural strengthening are 1) ~ 2) ~ 3) ~ 4) ~. In general, the actual failure occurs in a combination of the failure modes mentioned above.
Bond performance of epoxy adhesives in the FRP strengthening degrades rapidly beyond the glass transition temperature of the epoxy resin. The glass transition temperature for epoxy is in the range of 82 degree and 93 degrees in celcius.

23. FRP External Reinforcements
FRP wrapping on Columns
Increases the column strength and ductility significantly
Especially, when applying the wrapping in the
circumferential direction on circular columns
Regarded as the most effective way of FRP composite
application in the construction industry
Application
FRP confinement works for seismic strengthening
have been done predominantly in Japan & US
Very effective for circular columns,
less effective for rectangular columns
Research Efforts
Majority of research works among FRP’s have been
devoted to FRP Strengthening of existing structures
For example, 61% of papers of Journal of Composite
for Construction (ASCE) published on the issues
Bridge
Column
Strengthening
FRP wrapping on columns increases the column strength and ductility significantly for lateral loads. Especially, when applying the FRP wrapping in the circumferential direction on circular columns. And, the FRP confinements on columns are regarded as the most effective way of FRP composite application in the construction industry.
FRP confinement works for seismic strengthening have been done predominantly in Japan and USA. The FRP wrapping is known to be very effective for circular columns, while it is less effective for rectangular columns.
Majority of research works have been devoted to the FRP strengthening of existing structures. For example, around 61% of the research papers of Journal of Composite for Construction have been published on the issues.

24. FRP Pipe Line
FRP composite pipes are under development to replace the conventional pipe lines.
Advantages
Corrosion resistance
Long lifetime
Leak tightness
Low weight
Transport efficiency
Easy handling
Applications
Sewage
Potable water transfer
Irrigation
Drainage
Power lines
Korea Fiber Co.
Manufacturing
Continuous filament winding is common
FRP composite pipes are under development to replace the conventional pipe lines.
FRP composite pipe has various advantages of corrosion resistance, long lifetime, leak tightness, low weight, transport efficiency, and easy handling. And their applications can be sewage, potable water transfer, irrigation, drainage, and power lines.
For the manufacturing, continuous filament winding is common.
This picture shows an application example of GFRP/polyester pipes under construction. The pipes were manufactured by the continuous filament winding method.
Application Example
of GFRP/Polyester pipes under construction
manufactured by Continuous filament winding
Flowtite Co. (US)

25. FRP Ground Anchor
The FRP reinforcements can also be applied as ground anchor systems.
FRP Ground Anchor Systems
have a good corrosion resistance
Carbon and aramid fibers are commonly used in the manufacturing
because of their high strength and low relaxation characteristics
Slope Strengthening
with FRP ground anchor systems
Earth Retaining Structure
Using FRP ground anchor systems
The FRP reinforcements can also be applied as ground anchor systems. This picture shows an earth retaining structure using aramid FRP ground anchors. And the other is an example of slope strengthening with FRP ground anchors.
FRP ground anchor systems have a good corrosion resistance. Aramid and Carbon fibers are commonly used in the manufacturing of the anchor systems because of their high strength and low relaxation characteristics.
(Karbhari, 1998)
(Karbhari, 1998)

26. Codes and Design Guides
Codes and design guides are being developed in a number of countries
around the world. Following are the examples.
Japan
Recommendations for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures
using Continuous Fiber Reinforcements (JSCE) US
Guide for the Design and Construction of Concrete Reinforced with FRP bars (ACI)
Design and Construction of Externally Bonded FRP Systems for Strengthening
Concrete Structures (ACI)
Canada
- Design Provisions for Fiber Reinforced Structures (CHBDC)
Europe
- Euro Comp Design Codes and Handbook (by Clarke)
As discussed above, codes and design guides’ development for the FRP reinforcements have been very active, but the development for the FRP shapes have been rare.

27. FRP Applications (Japan)
FRP application ratios
- In the construction industry in Japan are introduced in the following pie chart
Major application areas are bridges and ground anchors.
They show around 50% ratio in summation in total FRP applications.
FRP application ratios in the construction industry in Japan are introduced in this pie chart. As we notice from the chart, major application areas are bridges and ground anchors. They show around 50% application ratio in summation in total FRP applications.
(Karbhari, 1998)

28. FRP Applications (US)
FRP consumption trends in the US among the various industries.
FRP application in the construction industry rank the second
and the ratio is around 20% to the total amount.
This chart shows an FRP consumption trends in the US among the various industries. As you see in the chart, the FRP application in the construction industry rank the second, and the ratio is around 20% to the total amount.
FRP CONSUMPTION (IN MILLION POUNDS)
Source: SPI CI, April 99

29. Conclusion Externally bonded FRP reinforcements
- widely adopted in the construction industry
- because their cost and safety benefits are clear
FRP structural shapes
- to bear primary loadings on highways
- still in the development and research state
Codes and design guides
- being published and used in Japan, Canada, the United States, and Europe.
To accelerate the FRP application in the construction industry, we need
Continuing R&D Activities
Development of Design Std., Specs & Guidelines
Materials and Manufacturing Specifications & Standards
Training and Education for Engineers, Construction Workers, Inspectors, etc.
Government & Private Funding
Collateral Works among Academia, Industries, and Government Agencies
Among the FRP products, externally bonded FRP reinforcements are widely adopted in the construction industry because their cost and safety benefits are eminent.
However, FRP structural shapes to bear primary loadings on highways are still in the development and research state.
A number of codes and design guides for FRP materials in construction are being published and used in Japan, Canada, the United States, and Europe.
To accelerate the FRP application in the construction industry, we need ~

30. Thank you!!
That’s all for my presentation today. Thank you for your patience!!