Innovative Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composite Materials for Sustainable Concrete Infrastructure

钢筋锈蚀导致混凝土基础设施恶化是当今建筑业面临的主要挑战之一。在世界范围内，政府和工业公司都在寻找更强大、更持久、更耐腐蚀、建造和维护成本更低的基础设施系统。世界各地的工程师都在寻找新的、负担得起的建筑材料，以及解决问题的创新方法和系统。解决这一问题的一个有效方法是采用耐腐蚀材料，如高性能纤维增强聚合物(FRP)复合材料。最近，这种尖端技术已经成为传统解决方案最具成本效益的替代方案之一。申请人的NSERC-工业研究主席(IRC)在其第四个五年任期内(10/2015-09/2020)在混凝土基础设施FRP加固方面的成就和贡献获得了广泛认可，并通过开发用于混凝土结构的创新和耐用的FRP加固，结合加拿大和国外的许多成功的现场应用，对FRP技术的进步产生了重大影响。NSERC联盟拨款申请中提出的这项研究扩展了NSERC主席所完成的工作，并将集中于以下主要目标：(1)评估新FRP产品的现有和开发；(2)进行耐久性评估、使用寿命预测和寿命周期成本计算；(3)进行FRP原型的实验室结构测试和分析建模；(4)进行现场实施和结构健康监测；以及(5)将FRP技术转让给最终用户和建筑业，包括培训高素质人员。拟议的研究将增加玻璃钢在全球建筑业中的使用，为加拿大玻璃钢制造商提供扩大其制造能力和出口潜力的可能性。加拿大建筑业、维修/修复行业和玻璃钢制造公司将创造新的就业机会。这将有利于加拿大的经济发展。

The deterioration of concrete infrastructure owing to corrosion of reinforcement steel is one of the major challenges facing the construction industry today. Worldwide, governments and industrial firms are looking for infrastructure systems that are stronger, last longer, are more resistant to corrosion, and cost less to build and maintain. Engineers all over the world are searching for new and affordable construction materials as well as innovative approaches and systems to solve problems. An effective solution to this problem is corrosion-resistant materials, such as high-performance fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Recently, this cutting-edge technology has emerged as one of the most cost-effective alternatives to traditional solutions. The achievements and contributions of the applicant's NSERC-Industrial Research Chair (IRC) in FRP Reinforcement for Concrete Infrastructure during its fourth five-year term (10/2015-09/2020) have achieved widespread recognition and significantly impacted the advancement of FRP technology through the development of innovative and durable FRP reinforcement for concrete structures, combined with many successful field applications in Canada and abroad. The research proposed in this NSERC Alliance grant application extends the work accomplished by this NSERC chair and will focus on the following main objective: (1) assess existing and development of new FRP products; (2) conduct durability assessment, service-life prediction, and life-cycling costing; (3) conduct laboratory structural testing of FRP prototypes and analytical modelling; (4) perform field implementation and structural-health monitoring; and (5) transfer the FRP technology to end users, and the construction industry including training of highly qualified personnel. The proposed research will increase use of FRP in the construction industry worldwide, providing Canadian FRP manufacturers the possibility to expand their manufacturing capabilities and their export potential. New job opportunities will be created in the Canadian construction industry, the repair/rehabilitation industry, and FRP manufacturing companies. This will benefit Canada's economic development.