Structural performance of a façade precast concrete sandwich panel enabled by a bar-type basalt fiber-reinforced polymer connector

In this study,a novel diagonally inserted bar-type basalt fiber reinforced polymer(BFRP)connector was proposed,aiming to achieve both construction convenience and partially composite behavior in precast concrete sandwich panels(PCSPs).First,pull-out tests were conducted to evaluate the anchoring performance of the connector in concrete after exposure to different temperatures.Thereafter,direct shear tests were conducted to investigate the shear performance of the connector.After the test on the individual performance of the connector,five façade PCSP specimens with the bar-type BFRP connector were fabricated,and the out-of-plane flexural performance was tested under a uniformly distributed load.The investigating parameters included the panel length,opening condition,and boundary condition.The results obtained in this study primarily indicated that 1)the bar-type BFRP connector can achieve a reliable anchorage system in concrete;2)the bar-type BFRP connector can offer sufficient stiffness and capacity to achieve a partially composite PCSP;3)the boundary condition of the panel considerably influenced the out-of-plane flexural performance and composite action of the investigated façade PCSP.

Compressive properties of glue-laminated timber circular post modified by basalt fiber reinforced polymer

Glued timber structure is one of the main forms of modern wood architecture,which has gradually developed towards mid-and high-rise buildings.Glue-laminated timber(GLT)is comprised of several laminates of parallel-to-grain dimension lumber that are bonded together with durable,moisture resistant structural adhesives.GLT can be used in horizontal applications as a beam and in vertical applications as a post.So,its compressive performance has a significant impact on structural safety.Fiber reinforced polymers(FRPs)were commonly used to improve the bearing capacity of GLT components,and the structural and process parameters largely determined the reinforcement effect.This study was aimed at investigating the influence of structural and process parameters on the axial compression performance of GLT components.Three wrapping methods(middle-part,end-part and full wrapping)and three lengths(0.6,0.8,and 1.0 m)of wood post specimens were designed in this work and the axial compression performance and ductility of GLT post specimens modified by basalt fiber reinforced polymer(BFRP)were studied.The results showed that the effect of different BFRP wrapping methods on the compressive strength and elastic modulus of laminated wood was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The compressive bearing capacity of unreinforced GLT posts decreased with the increase of aspect ratio.The GLT posts with middle-part and end-part wrapping still followed this pattern,while the compressive bearing capacity of GLT posts with full wrapping showed a pattern of first decreasing and then increasing.For GLT with low aspect ratios(4.0 or 5.3),there was no correlation between the wrapping method and the compressive bearing capacity,while the compressive bearing capacity of GLT with a high aspect ratio(6.7)for middle-part,end-part and full wrapping increased by 3.5%,7.5%and 9.7%,respectively.Compared to the unreinforced group,the ultimate axial compressive strength and modulus of elasticity(MOE)of the 6-E series specimens reinforced at both ends decreased by 2.58%and 6.70%,respectively.The ultimate axial compressive strength of the 8-E specimens reinforced at both ends increased by 8.62%and the MOE decreased by 1.91%.The compressive strength of the 10-E specimens reinforced at both ends increased by 7.51%and the MOE increased by 8.14%.The failure modes of GLT with different aspects were consistent under the same BFRP wrapping,while the failure modes of GLT with the same aspect ratio were different for different BFRP wrapping methods.The ductility performance of GLT with different aspects ratio was improved by the BFRP wrapping.

Compressive Performance of Fiber Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete by Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer-Polyvinyl Chloride Composite Jackets

The development of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)provides a new approach to limiting the waste of natural resources.In the present study,the mechanical properties and deformability of RACs were improved by adding basalt fibers(BFs)and using external restraints,such as a fiber-reinforced polymer(FRP)jacket or a PVC pipe.Samples were tested under axial compression.The results showed that RAC(50%replacement of aggregate)containing 0.2%BFs had the best mechanical properties.Using either BFs or PVC reinforcement had a slight effect on the loadbearing capacity and mode of failure.With different levels of BFs,the compressive strengths of the specimens reinforced with 1-layer and 3-layer basalt fiber reinforced polymer(BFRP)increased by 6.7%–10.5%and 16.5%–23.7%,respectively,and the ultimate strains increased by 48.5%–80.7%and 97.1%–141.1%,respectively.The peak stress of the 3-layer BFRP-PVC increased by 42.2%,and the ultimate strain improved by 131.3%,relative to the control.This reinforcement combined the high tensile strength of BFRP,which improved the post-peak behavior,and PVC,which enhanced the structural durability.In addition,to investigate the influence of the various constraints on compressive behavior,the stress-strain response was analyzed.Based on the analysis of experimental results,a peak stress-strain model and an amended ultimate stress-strain model were proposed.The models were verified as well;the result showed that the predictions from calculations are generally consistent with the experimental data(error within 10%).The results of this study provide a theoretical basis and reference for future applications of fiber-reinforced recycled concrete.

Strengthening reinforced concrete beams using prestressed glass fiber-reinforced polymer-Part II:Analytical study

Strengthening reinforced concrete (R. C.) beams using prestressed glass fiber-reinforced polymer (PGFRP) was studied experimentally as described in Part I of this paper (Huang et al., 2005). In that paper, R. C. beams, R. C. beams with GFRP (glass fiber-reinforced polymer) sheets, and R. C. beams with PGFRP sheets were tested in both under-strengthened and over-strengthened cases. The test results showed that the load-carrying capacities (ultimate loads) of the beams with GFRP sheets were greater than those of the beams without polymer sheets. The load-carrying capacities of beams with PGFRP sheets were greater than those of beams with GFRP sheets. The objective of this work is to develop an analytical method to compute all of these load-carrying capacities. This analytical method is independent of the experiments and based only on the traditional R. C. and P. C. (prestressed concrete) theory. The analytical results accorded with the test results. It is suggested that this analytical method be used for analyzing and designing R. C. beams strengthened using GFRP or PGFRP sheets.

Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bridge Design in the Netherlands： Architectural Challenges toward Innovative, Sustainable, and Durable Bridges

This paper reviews the use of fiber-reinforced polymers （FRPs） in architectural and structural bridge design in the Netherlands. The challenges and opportunities of this relatively new material, both for the architect and the engineer, are discussed. An inventory of recent structural solutions in FRP is included, followed by a discussion on architectural FRP applications derived from the architectural practice of the author and of other pioneers.

Compressive Strength Estimation for the Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP)-Confined Concrete Columns with Different Shapes Using Artificial Neural Networks

An evaluation of existing strength of concrete columns confined with fiber-reinforced polymer( FRP) was presented with extensive collection of experimental data. According to the evaluation results, artificial neural networks( ANNs) model to predict the ultimate strength of FRP confined column with different shapes was proposed. The models had seven inputs including the column length,the tensile strength of the FRP in the hoop direction,the total thickness of FRP,the diameter of the concrete specimen,the elastic modulus of FRP,the corner radius and the concrete compressive strength. The compressive strength of the confined concrete was the output data. The results reveal that the proposed models have good prediction and generalization capacity with acceptable errors.

Experimental study on mechanical properties of basalt fiber-reinforced silty clay

Fiber reinforcement technology can significantly improve the mechanical properties of soil and has been increasingly applied in geotechnical engineering.Basalt fiber is a new kind of environment-friendly and highperformance soil reinforcement material,and the mechanical properties of basalt fiber-reinforced soil have become a hot research topic.In this paper,we conducted monotonic triaxial and cyclic triaxial tests,and analyzed the influence of the fiber content,moisture content,and confining pressure on the shear characteristics,dynamic modulus,and damping ratio of basalt fiber-reinforced silty clay.The results illustrate that basalt fiber can enhance the shear strength of silty clay by increasing its cohesion.We find that the shear strength of reinforced silty clay reaches its maximum when the fiber content is approximately 0.2%and the moisture content is 18.5%(optimum moisture content).Similarly,we also find that the dynamic modulus that corresponds to the same strain first increases then decreases with increasing fiber content and moisture content and reaches its maximum when the fiber content is approximately 0.2%and the moisture content is 18.5%.The dynamic modulus is positively correlated with the confining pressure.However,the change in the damping ratio with fiber content,moisture content,and confining pressure is opposite to that of the dynamic modulus.It can be concluded that the optimum content of basalt fiber for use in silty clay is 0.2%.After our experiments,we used scanning electron microscope(SEM)to observe the microstructure of specimens with different fiber contents,and our results show that the gripping effect and binding effect are the main mechanisms of fiber reinforcement.

Proposed numerical and machine learning models for fiber-reinforced polymer concrete-steel hollow and solid elliptical columns

This study employs a hybrid approach,integrating finite element method(FEM)simulations with machine learning(ML)techniques to investigate the structural performance of double-skin tubular columns(DSTCs)reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer(GFRP).The investigation involves a comprehensive examination of critical parameters,including aspect ratio,concrete strength,number of GFRP confinement layers,and dimensions of steel tubes used in DSTCs,through comparative analyses and parametric studies.To ensure the credibility of the findings,the results are rigorously validated against experimental data,establishing the precision and trustworthiness of the analysis.The present research work examines the use of the columns with elliptical cross-sections and contributes valuable insights into the application of FEM and ML in the design and evaluation of structural systems within the field of structural engineering.

An efficient improved Gradient Boosting for strain prediction in Near-Surface Mounted fiber-reinforced polymer strengthened reinforced concrete beam

The Near-Surface Mounted(NSM)strengthening technique has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional strengthening methods in recent years.Over the past two decades,researchers have extensively studied its potential,advantages,and applications,as well as related parameters,aiming at optimization of construction systems.However,there is still a need to explore further,both from a static perspective,which involves accounting for the nonconservation of the contact section resulting from the bond-slip effect between fiber-reinforced polymer(FRP)rods and resin and is typically neglected by existing analytical models,as well as from a dynamic standpoint,which involves studying the trends of vibration frequencies to understand the effects of various forms of damage and the efficiency of reinforcement.To address this gap in knowledge,this research involves static and dynamic tests on simply supported reinforced concrete(RC)beams using rods of NSM carbon fiber reinforced polymer(CFRP)and glass fiber reinforced polymer(GFRP).The main objective is to examine the effects of various strengthening methods.This research conducts bending tests with loading cycles until failure,and it helps to define the behavior of beam specimens under various damage degrees,including concrete cracking.Dynamic analysis by free vibration testing enables tracking of the effectiveness of the reinforcement at various damage levels at each stage of the loading process.In addition,application of Particle Swarm Optimization(PSO)and Genetic Algorithm(GA)is proposed to optimize Gradient Boosting(GB)training performance for concrete strain prediction in NSM-FRP RC.The GB using Particle Swarm Optimization(GBPSO)and GB using Genetic Algorithm(GBGA)systems were trained using an experimental data set,where the input data was a static applied load and the output data was the consequent strain.Hybrid models of GBPSO and GBGA have been shown to provide highly accurate results for predicting strain.These models combine the strengths of both optimization techniques to create a powerful and efficient predictive tool.

A low-cost and high-strength basalt/carbon fiber reinforced polymer improved by imitating tree-root micro/nano aramid short fiber

The high-strength Basalt Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer(BCFRP)composites had been manufactured by guiding Imitating Tree-root Micro/Nano Aramid Short Fiber(ITMNASF)into the interlayer of Basalt Fiber(BF)and Carbon Fiber(CF)plies to form thin interleaving,and various mass proportions of IT-MNASF were designed to discuss the reinforcing effect on the BCFRP heterogeneous composites.The results of three points bending tests showed that flexural strength and energy absorption of 4wt%IT-MNASF reinforced BCFRP heterogeneous composites had been improved by 32.4%and 134.4%respectively compared with that of unreinforced specimens.The 4wt%IT-MNASF reinforced BCFRP specimens showed both a greater strength and a lower cost(reduced by 31%around)than that of plain CFRP composites.X-ray micro-computed tomography scanning results exhibited that the delamination-dominated failure of plain BCFRP composites was changed into multi-layer BF and CF fabrics damage.The reinforcing mechanism revealed that the introduced IT-MNASF could construct quasi-vertical fiber bridging,and it was used as"mechanical claws"to grasp adjacent fiber layers for creating a stronger mechanical interlocking,and this effectively improved resin-rich region and interfacial transition region at the interlayers.The simple and effective IT-MNASF interleaving technique was very successful in low-cost and high-strength development of BCFRP heterogeneous composites.

Deriving Tensile Properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) Using Mechanics of Composite Materials

This work addresses the tensile properties of glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) and investigates the different ways of estimating them without the cost associated with experimentation. This attempt is achieved through comparison between experimental results, derived in accordance with the ASTM standards, and results obtained using the mechanics of composite materials. The experimental results are also compared to results derived from work by other researchers in order to corroborate the findings regarding the correlation of tensile properties of the GFRP material and the fiber volume fraction.

Flexure-Compression Testing of Bridge Timber Piles Retrofitted with Fiber Reinforced Polymers

The adequacy of using Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) retrofit technique to restore the flexure-compression behavior of deteriorated bridge timber piles is examined experimentally in this paper. Sixteen specimens are tested monotonically under eccentric compressive loading. The specimens are first tested in their unretrofitted condition to determine their elastic properties. Each specimen is then cut and connected (posted) using the proposed FRP retrofit technique, and retested. The results show that the retrofitted specimens are capable of reaching same or higher strengths than that of the unretrofitted specimens with minimal reduction in their stiffness. Based on the experimental results, a design equation is presented to compute the volumetric ratio of FRP needed for retrofitting bridge timber piles under eccentric load.

A Voronoi diagram approach for detecting defects in 3D printed fiber-reinforced polymers from microscope images

Fiber-reinforced polymer(FRP)composites are increasingly popular due to their superior strength to weight ratio.In contrast to significant recent advances in automating the FRP manufacturing process via 3D printing,quality inspection and defect detection remain largely manual and inefficient.In this paper,we propose a new approach to automatically detect,from microscope images,one of the major defects in 3D printed FRP parts:fiber-deficient areas(or equivalently,resin-rich areas).From cross-sectional microscope images,we detect the locations and sizes of fibers,construct their Voronoi diagram,and employ-shape theory to determine fiber-deficient areas.Our Voronoi diagram and-shape construction algorithms are specialized to exploit typical characteristics of 3D printed FRP parts,giving significant efficiency gains.Our algorithms robustly handle real-world inputs containing hundreds of thousands of fiber cross-sections,whether in general or non-general position.

玄武岩纤维棒聚合物混凝土的弯曲韧性

研究了玄武岩纤维棒(BFB)的纤维增强指数I_(R)对玄武岩纤维棒聚合物混凝土(BFB-PC)韧性指标T_((2(n-1)))(n)的影响,通过分形理论探究了T_((2(n-1)))(n)与裂缝形貌的关系,并建立了弯曲韧性计算模型.结果表明:当IR=90.0时,BFB对BFB-PC的增韧效果最优,此时BFB-PC的弯曲韧性比未掺BFB时提升了8.39倍;BFB的增韧阈值为IR=37.5和IR=90.0;当IR相同时,与未掺聚合物的混凝土相比,聚灰比为0.06的BFB-PC T_((2(n-1)))(n)更高;IR越大裂缝形貌越复杂,T(2(n-1))(n)与裂缝分形维数呈二次函数关系;本文提出的弯曲韧性计算模型准确描述了BFB对PC梁的增韧作用,其试验值与理论值的相对误差小于15.00%.

BFRP筋回收轮胎钢纤维混凝土黏结性能分析

对玄武岩纤维增强复合材料(BFRP)筋在回收轮胎钢纤维(RTSF)混凝土中的黏结性能进行了试验和分析研究.对不同RTSF体积掺量、BFRP筋直径和嵌入长度的试件进行了拉拔试验,研究其对黏结破坏模式、黏结滑移响应和黏结强度的影响,并提出了BFRP筋RTSF混凝土的黏结滑移理论模型.结果表明:BFRP筋RTSF混凝土黏结破坏类型包括拔出破坏、劈裂破坏以及拔出且劈裂破坏;BFRP筋直径对黏结破坏模式无显著影响,而RTSF体积掺量、BFRP筋直径和嵌入长度均对黏结强度有较大影响,且RTSF体积掺量与极限黏结强度呈正相关,BFRP筋直径和嵌入长度对其影响与之相反;当RTSF体积掺量从0增大至1.5%时,其极限黏结强度最大可提高约23.87%.与已有模型相比,所提出的黏结滑移理论模型对BFRP筋RTSF混凝土的黏结滑移曲线具有更高的拟合精度.

玄武岩纤维增强复合材料拉挤圆管抗弯性能研究

为使玄武岩纤维增强复合材料(Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer,BFRP)拉挤圆管在桥梁工程中得到更广泛地应用,对其抗弯性能进行试验及有限元分析。对2根长度为750 mm的BFRP拉挤圆管进行三点抗弯试验;采用LS-DYNA有限元软件对试验过程进行模拟,验证有限元模拟的正确性;在保持BFRP拉挤圆管总厚度不变的条件下,研究内、外层双向纤维布的铺设厚度和角度对抗弯性能的影响。结果表明:试件从加载至破坏分为线弹性阶段、下降阶段和残余阶段,试件破坏后残余强度较大且卸载后迅速回弹恢复几何形状;有限元模拟试件的荷载~滑移曲线、失效现象和试验结果吻合较好,有限元模拟正确;布置适量厚度的内、外层双向纤维布可以提高试件的抗弯承载力;将内、外层双向纤维布铺设方向由90°变为45°后,抗弯承载力进一步提高,随着外层45°纤维布厚度增加,破坏时的挠度下降。建议制作BFRP拉挤圆管时,布置适量厚度的双向纤维布,角度以45°为宜。

BFPC固定结合面虚拟材料热特性参数建模

为确定含有玄武岩纤维树脂混凝土(basalt fiber polymer concrete,BFPC)固定结合面的机床基础件热特性参数,基于虚拟材料法建立了含有BFPC固定结合面组件的仿真模型,并对其热特性进行仿真分析;设计制造了含有BFPC固定结合面的组件,通过实验方法研究组件的热特性。将仿真分析和实验研究的结果进行对比,分析表明:两种方法得到的组件在不同时刻的温度场具有一致性,且仿真与对应实验点温度的误差不大于8.57%,证明了所建立的BFPC固定结合面虚拟材料参数模型的准确性,以及基于此采用虚拟材料法对含有BFPC固定结合面组件进行热特性仿真分析的精确性和有效性。

玄武岩纤维增强聚合物筋混凝土循环拉拔试验及预测模型

为探究动荷载下玄武岩纤维增强聚合物(BFRP)筋与混凝土的黏结行为,开展了BFRP筋混凝土正反向循环拉拔试验,对其黏结动力性能进行分析。结果表明,从黏结应力⁃滑移关系曲线揭示,循环荷载下BFRP筋与混凝土黏结行为经历4个阶段的受力特征:弹性阶段、裂缝扩展阶段、裂缝闭合阶段和摩擦阶段;随BFRP聚合物筋直径的增大,降低了BFRP筋⁃混凝土界面的黏结强度;随循环次数的增加,BFRP筋与混凝土的黏结强度减小,黏结强度对应的滑移量增加,剪切滞回面积减小,耗能能力降低;基于试验结果,提出了适用于计算循环荷载下BFRP筋与混凝土黏结性能的预测模型,从而为BFRP筋混凝土抗震和疲劳行为奠定试验和理论基础。

玄武岩纤维增强复合材料现状及发展前景研究

玄武岩纤维(BF)具有绿色环保、高强耐腐、隔音隔热等优点,广泛应用于各类玄武岩纤维复合材料(BFRP)的研发中。目前BFRP还存在制备工艺不足、产品质量不稳定、改性混掺工艺不足等问题,针对上述问题的研究缺乏系统性总结。为此,研究了当前BFRP的制备与生产工艺、增强机理及应用现状,总结并提出了BFRP的发展及应用困境,并给出了相应的建议和研究展望。研究表明:当前基于最优单掺纤维的BFRP不断应用于土建交通、石油运输、航空航天等领域中,并呈增长趋势;但高性能BF生产、纤维混掺、BF界面改性等新型BFRP制备工艺还存在生产成本高和成品质量不稳定等问题,制约了高性能低能耗BFRP研发;BFRP生产应用全过程的规范标准仍然不健全,限制了BFRP的推广应用。随着新工艺不断发展和高性能BF的陆续研发,BFRP性能将更优异、能耗更低,未来将是BFRP深度应用的时代。研究对于高性能低能耗BFRP的研发及应用具有一定参考价值。