摘要: |
Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) have been shown to be excellent construction materials in low temperature environments due to their low thermal conductivity to strength ratio, and high strength to density ratio. However, in cold weather climates, high residual stresses can build up within the fibrous composite material due to different coefficients of thermal expansion of the constituent materials. In regions where the environmental temperature may vary from day to day, microcracking and void generation can accentuate these residual stresses. This report focuses on the effects of combined loading history and environmental exposure on the durability of carbon and glass Fiber-reinforced polymer reinforcement bars. Specifically, degradations of FRP bars due to coupled freeze-thaw cycling, tension, and tensile fatigue loading are experimentally investigated. After a series of cyclic environmental preconditioning and mechanical loading, the degradation and variable loading rate dependency of GFRP bars are evaluated from several aspects: strength degradation due to freeze-thaw cycling, static and dynamic tensile strength, elongation, Young's modulus, displacement stiffness, fatigue strength, and failure mode analysis including bar grip failures. |