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

加拿大的基础设施大部分是用钢筋混凝土(RC)建造的，价值数万亿美元。多年来，对基础设施的需求有所增加，但由于不同的破坏机制，其状态也有所恶化。这一事实已经将公众置于危险之中，加拿大的经济增长也处于危险之中。 为了迎接这一挑战，工程师和研究人员一直在研究使用更耐用和有效的材料来修复现有结构。康复领域最新的新兴和创新技术是纺织增强砂浆(TRM)。TRM是由嵌入在水泥基无机砂浆中的高强度、轻质纺织纤维组成。TRM具有比强度高、无腐蚀性、耐高温、适用于潮湿表面等特点。到目前为止，对TRM修复现有结构的可行性进行的研究很少，这表明TRM将是一种很好的修复材料。然而，我们仍然缺乏对用TRM修复的结构的行为以及使用它所需的设计技术的透彻了解。 这项拟议研究计划的长期目标是将TRM作为加固和维修材料纳入建筑和桥梁规范。这将在短期内通过研究TRM对RC构件的抗弯强度、抗震能力和变形能力的影响来实现。在接下来的五年里，该计划将培养几个高素质的个人(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工作岗位。 本研究方案的创新之处在于开发了一种使用可持续材料的高效维修方法，与其他维修方法相比，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。这项建议的不同之处在于，它将是加拿大第一个关于TRM作为修复和加固材料的全面研究，也是世界上第一个研究之一。

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.