Author : Anil Thakur and Amit Sahayb

Retrofitting of deteriorated concrete structure using composite materials is rather a new technique that is used to make structures more stable to withstand tensile load. The composite materials used are mostly Fibre Reinforced Plastics / Polymers (FRP). This technique is used for all types of structural elements viz. Column, beam, bridge, slab, span etc. This technique provides reinforcement against all types of external loads viz. axial load, flexural load, shear load, torsional load and also for impact loads. There are various types of Fibre Reinforced Plastics / Polymers (FRP) commercially available for wrapping of structures for reinforcement. Further there are various wrapping methods used. There is need for standardization of the material as well as the different wrapping schemes. This requires rigorous stress analysis of the reinforcement material as well as wrapping methods adopted.

Keywords: Concrete structures; Rehabilitation; Service Life enhancement; Composite material; Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP); GFRP; CFRP; AFRP; Retrofitting;