In the recent times, the requirement of the advanced and durable components and structures has greatly increased, especially in the field of construction industry. In the 21st century, all of these advanced structures are incorporated with sophisticated sensors which make these structures capable of performing self-health monitoring without the need of any human interference.
These smart systems have allowed the monitoring of the various construction units. This concept was applied via the installations of sensors, such as accelerometer, for the evaluation of the durability and tensile strength of the heavy structures such as dams, bridges and so on. However, one major drawback of these systems is the high cost.
Due to the high cost associated with those smart systems, engineers and construction workers have desired the implementation of materials which are durable and strong as steel but require least amount of maintenance. Thus was the rise of the FRP structures which were considered to be the ideal material for the construction of various structures. These fibre-reinforced polymer structures are made of epoxy resin and fibre strands of carbon, basalt, glass or aramid. These materials possess a high resistance to heat, electricity, rust, chemical corrosion which would not be seen, if not all, in the conventional building materials.
These smart systems have allowed the monitoring of the various construction units. This concept was applied via the installations of sensors, such as accelerometer, for the evaluation of the durability and tensile strength of the heavy structures such as dams, bridges and so on. However, one major drawback of these systems is the high cost.
Due to the high cost associated with those smart systems, engineers and construction workers have desired the implementation of materials which are durable and strong as steel but require least amount of maintenance. Thus was the rise of the FRP structures which were considered to be the ideal material for the construction of various structures. These fibre-reinforced polymer structures are made of epoxy resin and fibre strands of carbon, basalt, glass or aramid. These materials possess a high resistance to heat, electricity, rust, chemical corrosion which would not be seen, if not all, in the conventional building materials.
Here is a list of some of the proposed advanced FRP components and structures:
• FRP anchorage system: The anchorage is perhaps the most vital component for the durability and reliability of the various structures. In this particular system, the stress developed at the axial and interfacial must be accurately computed on a real time basis. Due to the difficulty in the installation of sensors for determining the levels of pressure, the FRP anchor rod and FRP anchorage are used for identifying the pressure levels and hence strengthening those points.
• Smart FRP bars: These bars were taken in as a replacement of the metal bars, thus ensuring the structural stability and safety to the surrounding environment. These FRP bars comprise of the OFS (Optic Fibre Sensing) technology which is integrated into these bars at the time pultrusion process. Since these sensors-embedded bars can help the engineers to find the point of defect of a structure, if any, and quickly amend it for ensuring the safety of the occupants and the surroundings.
• External FRP systems: Various types of infrastructure, mainly bridges, suffer from the climatic impact and deteriorate as a result of the wear and tear. For the newer construction as replacement of the deteriorated infrastructures, it would require a huge amount of time, as well as, investment. Thus, implementing the FRP composites as part of the repairing methods would be efficient in terms of both time and money
These are just some of the proposals, which are being gradually implemented in only a few industries but are likely to be adapted throughout the world within a short span of time. FRP grating is one example of the quite prominent FRP technology which is widely used in several industries for facilitating the reduction of accidents from slip and fall. Similarly, there are several of the fibre-reinforced polymer applications which can be easily used, in turn, ensuring the durability & stability of the structures.
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