CIAM-UTC-REG16
Research Team
Jovan Tatar, University of Delaware
Project Description
The proposed project seeks to assess the long-term performance and effectiveness of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in facilitating rapid structural renewal of deteriorated concrete bridges in the Federal Region 3. Although FRP composites have been extensively used to strengthen and repair deteriorating bridges across the country, data warranting their long-term performance is lacking. The need for research on the durability of FRP composites for infrastructure was highlighted in a recent congressional hearing and a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) report. The state of Delaware has the first (1994) externally bonded FRP repair installed on a publicly owned bridge in its inventory, offering a unique opportunity to study the durability characteristics of these materials over a timespan of over 25 years and contribute to a prominent national research need.