Design of FRP plates for flexural strengthening concrete structures using European design guidelines

Abstract

In the last years composite materials are emerging as an alternative technique to traditional materials and techniques to increase the load-carrying capacity of existing concrete structures due to their advantageous properties. Composite materials are made of fibers in a polymeric matri and are also known as fiber-reinforced polymers(FRP). Because of this increasing interest, different guidelines about the strengthening of concrete structures with FRP systems are emanating in different countries and continents although they can not be still considered as codes because the work is still in progress since many questions are opened. This paper reports on the European state-of-art in the use of FRP composites for flexural strengthening of concrete structures. The recommended design procedures are shown and posible alternatives are proposed for the future. In the same way, unresolved issues are posed. Finally, a worked example of a concrete beam strengthened with the FRP system is presented in order to illustrate the flexural design procedures proposed by the European guidelines.