Textile reinforced mortar (TRM) for structural strengthening and seismic retrofitting

加拿大的基础设施，主要是用钢筋混凝土（RC）建造的，价值数万亿美元。多年来，对基础设施的需求不断增加，但由于不同的破坏机制，基础设施的状况不断恶化。这一事实使公众处于危险之中，也使加拿大的经济增长处于危险之中。 为了应对这一挑战，工程师和研究人员一直在研究使用更耐用、更有效的材料来修复现有结构。在修复领域最新出现的创新技术是纺织增强砂浆（TRM）。TRM由嵌入无机水泥基砂浆中的高强度轻质纺织纤维组成。TRM的特点是其高强度重量比，无腐蚀性，耐高温的能力，并适用于潮湿的表面。到目前为止，很少有研究调查TRM修复现有结构的可行性，表明TRM将是一种优秀的修复材料。然而，我们仍然缺乏一个彻底的了解与TRM修复结构的行为，以及所需的设计技术与它一起工作。 这项研究计划的长期目标是将TRM纳入建筑和桥梁规范，作为加固和修复材料。这将在短期内通过检查TRM对RC构件的抗弯强度和抗震能力以及变形能力的影响来实现。在接下来的五年里，该计划将培养一些高素质的人才（五名研究生和几名本科生），这将有助于在加拿大创造高价值的就业机会。 这项研究计划的创新在于开发一种使用可持续材料的有效维修方法，与其他维修方法相比，这种方法将节省时间和成本，从而提高公共安全和基础设施的可靠性。这一建议的独特之处在于，它将是加拿大第一次全面研究TRM作为康复和加强材料，也是世界上第一次研究TRM。

Canada's infrastructure, mostly built with reinforced concrete (RC), is worth trillions of dollars. Over the years, the demand on the infrastructure has increased, while its state has deteriorated due to different damaging mechanisms. This fact has put the public in danger as well as Canada's economic growth in jeopardy. To meet this challenge, engineers and researchers have been looking into the use of more durable and effective materials to rehabilitate existing structures. The newest emerging and innovative technology in the rehabilitation field is textile-reinforced mortar (TRM). TRM is composed of high strength, lightweight textile fibres embedded in inorganic, cement-based mortar. TRM are characterized by their high strength-weight ratio, non-corrosiveness, ability to resist high temperatures and to be applied on wet surfaces. The little research that was conducted so far to investigate the feasibility of TRM to rehabilitate existing structures, has suggested that TRM will be an excellent rehabilitation material. However, we are still lacking a thorough understanding of the behaviour of structures rehabilitated with TRM as well as the design techniques required to work with it. The long-term goal of this proposed research program is to incorporate TRM in building and bridge codes as a strengthening and repair material. This will be achieved on the short term by examining the effect of TRM on the flexural strength and seismic capacity and deformability of RC members. In the next five years, the program will train few highly qualified personal (five graduate and several undergraduate students) which will help in the creation of high-value jobs in Canada. This research program innovation lays in developing an efficient repair method using sustainable materials that will save time and cost compared to other repair methods, thus will increase public safety and the infrastructure reliability. What distinguishes this proposal is the fact that it will be the first comprehensive study on TRM as rehabilitation and strengthening material in Canada and among the first in the world.