Mechanical performances of composite-strengthened concrete structures with embedded FBG sensors

Investigations on the use of fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) composites to strengthen and reinforce civil concrete structures have been found increasingly in recent years. Current study aims to investigate the mechanical behaviours of concrete structures, which are strengthened by the FRP materials on the concrete surface subjected to international standard test. The scope of the study also includes the development of smart structure health monitoring system for these strengthened structures by embedding fibre-optic Bragg grating (FBG) sensors inside the concrete and at the interface between the concrete surface and externally bonded composite materials.; An extensive review is given to discuss the present practice on the utilisation of the FRP materials in the civil concrete applications. Another focus was placed on the adaptability of using the embedded optical fibre sensor as strain- and temperature-measuring devices in engineering applications.; Following the comprehensive review, several results from preliminary experimental studies are given. These studies include fundamental mechanical property tests for the concrete, composite and interfacial bonding behaviour of composite plate with an embedment of optical fibre. The results from the lap joint shear test for the composite-concrete bonded joint shows that an epoxy resin can provide a strong bonding characteristic to the concrete materials.; Mechanical behaviour of composite-wrapped concrete structure was investigated. The laboratory-sized concrete cylinders were wrapped around its circumference by glass fibre composite laminates.; Composite-bonded rectangular concrete beams (with/without crack formation at mid-beam) subjected to the three-point bending were investigated through experimental observation, analytical and numerical approaches.; Linear elastic analytical model was derived to investigate adhesive shear and peel-off stresses with different strengthening plate geometries and material properties for the composite-strengthened structure.; The adaptability of using embedded fibre-optic Bragg grating (FBG) sensor for strain measurement was investigated experimentally. The FBG sensors were embedded at the interface between the concrete and composite in both the composite-wrapped and plate-bonded concrete structures.; The mechanical performance of the plate bonded reinforced-concrete (RC) structures after immersing into the saline water, fresh water, acidic (PH 4.01) and alkaline (PH 10) solutions for 6 months were studied. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...