This overview examines current issues of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in civil infrastructure. Part I engages topics related to durability and service life of FRP composites, and how they contribute to sustainability, while Part II highlights implementation and applications.

Given the increasing use of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in structural civil engineering, there is a vital need for critical information related to the overall durability and performance of these new materials under harsh and changing conditions. Durability of composites for civil and structural applications provides a thorough overview of key aspects of the durability of FRP composites for designers and practising engineers.Part one discusses general aspects of composite durability. Chapters examine mechanisms of degradation such as moisture, aqueous solutions, UV radiation, temperature, fatigue and wear. Part two then discusses ways of using FRP composites, including strengthening and rehabilitating existing structures with FRP composites, and monitoring techniques such as structural health monitoring.Durability of composites for civil and structural applications provides practising engineers, decision makers and students with a useful and fundamental guide to the use of FRP composites within civil and structural engineering. - Provides a thorough overview of key aspects of the durability of composites - Examines mechanisms of degradation such as aqueous solutions, moisture, fatigue and wear - Discusses ways of using FRP composites, including strengthening and rehabilitating existing structures

"Field validation of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bridges through load testing provides a means of measuring the performance of a bridge over time. Non-contact optical surveying equipment is one such method that can be utilized to measure the deflection of bridges under a static truck load. This thesis looks at monitoring bridges over time that have been both strengthened and constructed with FRP technologies. Five structurally deficient Missouri bridges have recently been retrofitted with FRP technologies with the intent to validate the overall in-situ performance. Testing focused on Nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques as a means of conducting these tests without damaging the existing structures. Static load testing was conducted and the results of the pre-strengthened and post-strengthened deflections have been used to evaluate the structural health over time"--Abstract, leaf iii.

The result of the authors' 40 years of experience in durability testing, this book describes the advanced testing methodology based on the viscoelasticity of matrix polymer. After a short introduction to the viscoelastic behavior of fiber-reinforced plastics, the text goes on to review in detail the concepts of static, fatigue and creep strengths in polymer composites. An application-oriented approach is adopted such that the concepts developed in the book are applied to real-life examples. Indispensable information for materials scientists and engineers working in those industrial sectors is concerned with the development and safe use of polymer composite-based products.

Abstract: The primary objective of this chapter is first to introduce and demonstrate the application of thermoplastic (woven glass reinforced polypropylene) in the design of modular fiber-reinforced bridge decks, and next the development of jackets for confining concrete columns against compression and impact loading. The design concept and manufacturing processes of the thermoplastic bridge deck composite structural system are presented by recognizing the structural demands required to support highway traffic. Then the results of the small-scale static cylinder tests and the impact tests of concrete columns are presented, demonstrating that thermoplastic reinforcement jackets act to restrain the lateral expansion of the concrete that accompanies the onset of crushing, maintaining the integrity of the core concrete, and enabling much higher compression strains (compared to CFRP composite wraps) to be sustained by the compression zone before failure occurs.