8/13/2014 Fiber Reinforced Polymers - Characteristics and Behaviors

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Fiber Reinforced Polymers
Characteristics and Behaviors
The mechanical properties and behaviors of fiber reinforced polymers (FRP),
including composites with aramid (AFRP), basalt (BFRP), carbon (CFRP), and
glass (GFRP) fibers, versus steel reinforcing should be understood prior to
undertaking the design of structures using these reinforcements.
FRP systems are an increasingly acceptable alternative to steel reinforcement
for reinforced concrete structures including cast-in-place and pre- and post-
tensioned bridges, precast concrete pipes, columns, beams and other
components.
FRP advantages over steel reinforcement including resilience to corrosion is
listed on the previous page. Masonry structures also benefit with FRP
reinforcement. Their use as original reinforcement and for strengthening
structures is being specified more and more by structural engineers in the
public and private industries.
Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP)
FRPs using glass fibers are the predominant reinforcing fiber in all FRPs. E-
glass is the most commonly used fiber. It has high electrical insulating
properties, good heat resistance, and has the lowest cost. S-Glass fibers have
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8/13/2014 Fiber Reinforced Polymers - Characteristics and Behaviors
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higher heat resistance and about one-third higher tensile strength than E-glass.
The specialty AR-glass fibers are resistant to the alkaline environment found in
concrete but have much higher cost.
Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP)
Basalt fibers have higher tensile strength than E-glass fibers but lower than S-glass,
however, its cost is near the cost of E-glass. It has much better resistance than E-
and S-glass to the alkalies in concrete.
Aramid Fiber Reinforced Polymer (AFRP)
Aramid fibers (also known as aromatic polyamide fibers) have high strength, a
high elastic modulus, and 40% lower density than glass fibers. The cost of
aramid fibers is higher than glass and basalt fibers making them less common
in structural applications. In addition, aramid fibers will absorb moisture so
careful storage and planning of a project using aramid fibers is critical until the
fibers have been impregnated with a polymer matrix.
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)
Carbon fibers have a very high tensile strength and elastic modulus. The elastic
modulus of high modulus carbon fiber is similar to steel. CFR using high and
ultra high modulus carbon fibers are popular in the aerospace industry because
its strength to weight ratio is among the highest of all FRPs. High strength,
normal modulus fibers are used with CFRPs in the infrastructure industry.
FRP Design Properties
The primary physical properties considered for design are: (American Concrete
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8/13/2014 Fiber Reinforced Polymers - Characteristics and Behaviors
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Institute (ACI) nomenclature shown)
Ultimate tensile strength, ffu*
Tensile Modulus of Elasticity, Ef
Ultimate Rupture Strain, or Elongation at Break, fu*, the strain of a material at the
point of rupture.
Fiber reinforced polymers exhibit linear-elastic behavior; therefore, these properties
are interrelated as defined by Hookes law.
Rei nforci ng
Materi al
Yi el d
Strength
ksi (MPa)
Tensi l e
Strength
ksi (MPa)
El asti c
Modul us
ksi (GPa)
Strai n at
Break
percent
Steel
40-75
(276-517)
N/A
29,000
(200)
N/A
Glass FRP N/A
70-230
(480-1,600)
5,100-7,400
(35-51)
1.2-3.1
Basalt FRP N/A
150-240
(1,035-1,650)
6,500-8,500
(45-59)
1.6-3.0
Aramid FRP N/A
250-368
(1,720-2,540)
6,000-18,000
(41-125)
1.9-4.4
Carbon FRP N/A
250-585
(1,720-3,690)
15,900-84,000
(120-580)
0.5-1.9
Note:
1. It is understood that steel has an ultimate tensile strength, however, it is not
used in design.
2. The values given for the various FRPs are based on a typical fiber volume
fraction of 0.5 to 0.7.
3. ACI 440.6-08 specifies that glass fiber and carbon fiber based reinforcing bars
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8/13/2014 Fiber Reinforced Polymers - Characteristics and Behaviors
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have a tensile elastic modulus of at least 5,700 ksi (39.3 GPa) and 18,000 ksi (124
GPA), respectively.
Comparison of FRP Tensile and Steel Yield Strengths
Creep-Rupture Stress Limit
An important factor when choosing the type of reinforced composite for a structural
application is understanding the limits of a fiber to resist long term loading.
Continuous and cyclic loading on a fiber reinforced polymer in excess of its ability to
resist those loads may induce long-term deflection, fatigue failure, or creep-rupture
in the structural component. To eliminate the deflections caused by creep, the
stresses in FRP reinforcement in structural members must be less than the creep-
rupture stress limit.
ACI and other design codes recommend a reduction factor applied to the ultimate
tensile strength of the FRP to avoid creep-rupture and fatigue related failures. The
reduction factors found in the ACI codes for glass, aramid and carbon FRPs are
8/13/2014 Fiber Reinforced Polymers - Characteristics and Behaviors
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shown below. A reduction factor for basalt FRP is also shown based on the research
of Dr. Anil K. Patnaik at the University of Akron.
Creep-Rupture Reduction Factors
GFRP BFRP AFRP CFRP
Creep-Rupture
Stress Limit, F
f,s
0.20 0.20 0.30 0.55
The creep-rupture reduction factors have a significant impact on the useable
strength of the FRP system. The graph below shows the tensile strength range of the
various FRPs multiplied by the appropriate creep-reduction factors along with the
standard stress limit of 80 percent of steel yield strength.
Factored FRP Tensile Strengths
As can be easily seen above, carbon FRPs have a much greater useable strength
after the application of the reduction factor. Greater useable strength equals a
reduced amount of FRP for a given application which can offset increased material
8/13/2014 Fiber Reinforced Polymers - Characteristics and Behaviors
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and labor costs.
Other design factors are needed to successfully design FRP reinforced structures.
These will be discussed in later pages.
References Used on This Page
1. Molded Fiber Glass Companies, Designing with Fiber Reinforced Plastics /
Composites, Techniques and Technologies for Cost Effectiveness, 2003
2. American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 440, 440.6-08 "Specification for
Carbon and Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bar Materials for Concrete
Reinforcement," 2008
3. Prince Engineering, PLC, "Characteristics and Behaviors of Fiber Reinforced
Polymers (FRPs) Used for Reinforcement and Strengthening of Structures," 2011
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8/13/2014 Fiber Reinforced Polymers - Characteristics and Behaviors
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