ACI 440R : 2007

Description: Applications of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites as reinforcement for concrete structures have been growing rapidly in recent years. ACI Committee 440 has published design guidelines for internal FRP reinforcement, externally bonded FRP reinforcement for strengthening, prestressed FRP reinforcement, and test methods for FRP products. Although these guidelines exist, new products and applications continue to be developed. Thus, this report summarizes the current state of knowledge on these materials and their application to concrete and masonry structures. The purpose of this report is to act as an introduction to FRP materials in areas where ACI guides exist, and to provide information on the properties and behavior of concrete structures containing FRP in areas where guides are not currently available. If an ACI guide is available, the guide document supersedes information in this report, and the guide should always be followed for design and application purposes. ACI Committee 440 is also in the process of developing new guides and thus the current availability of guides should be checked by the reader. In addition to the material properties of the constituent materials (that is, resins and fibers) and products, current knowledge of FRP applications, such as internal reinforcement including prestressing, external strengthening of concrete and masonry structures, and structural systems, is discussed in detail. The document also addresses durability issues and the effects of extreme events, such as fire and blast. A summary of some examples of field applications is presented.

Keywords: aramid fibers; blast; bridges; buildings; carbon fibers; composite materials; corrosion; design; dowels; ductility; durability; external reinforcement; fatigue; fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP); fibers; fire; glass fiber; masonry; mechanical properties; polymer resin; prestressed concrete; seismic; stay-in-place forms; structural systems; test methods.