A State-of-the-Art Review on Structural Strengthening Techniques with FRPs: Effectiveness, Shortcomings, and Future Research Directions

• Published in: Materials Vol. 17; no. 6; p. 1408
• Main Authors: Hammad, Muhammad, Bahrami, Alireza, Khokhar, Sikandar Ali, Khushnood, Rao Arsalan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 19-03-2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Bonding strength; Bridges; Carbon fibers; CFRP; Concrete; Concrete structures; Construction industry; Construction materials; Crack initiation; external prestressing; externally bonded reinforcement; Fiber reinforced plastics; Fiber reinforced polymers; Finite element analysis; FRP; near-surface mounted reinforcement; Performance evaluation; Polymers; Prestressed concrete; Prestressing; Reinforced cements; Retrofitting; Review; section curvilinearization; Shear tests; State-of-the-art reviews; Steel; Strengthening; Structural engineers; Temperature effects; Tensile strength; United Kingdom; flexural strength; structural strengthening; FRP; near-surface mounted reinforcement; epoxy; section curvilinearization; external prestressing; adhesive; externally bonded reinforcement; CFRP; near‐surface mounted reinforcement
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma17061408

In the pursuit of creating more sustainable and resilient structures, the exploration of construction materials and strengthening methodologies is imperative. Traditional methods of relying on steel for strengthening proved to be uneconomical and unsustainable, prompting the investigation of innovative composites. Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs), known for their lightweight and high-strength properties, gained prominence among structural engineers in the 1980s. This period saw the development of novel approaches, such as near-surface mounted and externally bonded reinforcement, for strengthening of concrete structures using FRPs. In recent decades, additional methods, including surface curvilinearization and external prestressing, have been discovered, demonstrating significant additional benefits. While these techniques have shown the enhanced performance, their full potential remains untapped. This article presents a comprehensive review of current approaches employed in the fortification of reinforced cement concrete structures using FRPs. It concludes by identifying key areas that warrant in-depth research to establish a sustainable methodology for structural strengthening, positioning FRPs as an effective replacement for conventional retrofitting materials. This review aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on modern structural strengthening strategies, highlight the properties of FRPs, and propose avenues for future research in this dynamic field.