Glass reinforcement for concrete favored in North America

At the 2012 Composite Materials Conference and Trade Show hosted by the American Composite Material Manufacturers Association (ACMA), the use of FRP bars for concrete is a hot topic. Busil, director of ACMA's "Composite Development Plan," said that the corrosion of concrete occurs in many forms. This is a big problem that the engineering community must face. The pores of concrete allow water and corrosive substances to infiltrate and reach the rebar, causing the steel to rust and swell, causing the concrete to crack. The characteristics of the composite material make it an ideal solution. It is not affected by chloride ions and chemical additives. It has higher tensile strength than steel, lighter weight, non-conductive, and non-conductive. FRP can be used for any concrete member that is susceptible to corrosion by chloride ions or chemicals and any concrete member that requires the use of non-ferrous reinforcement due to electromagnetic influence.

In the United States today, 15 states use FRP ribs in bridge decks. The application of FRP bars is extensive, from prefabricated components to parapets. Busel introduced several major projects, including the renovation of the world's largest steel-free bridge deck (Flooorway Bridge, Canada) and the dry dock in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA.

Busel also said that hollow FRP tendons will be available soon. Hollow reinforcements can install sensors, conduits, or heating elements in the ribs to increase functionality. However, slats suppliers may also encounter reluctant users.

A professor at the University of Sherbrooke, Canada, made a report at the conference, introducing a 40-year-old multi-storey car park reconstruction project. About 40 000 m of glass fiber reinforced plastic ribs were used on the first floor of this parking lot, setting the first example of the construction industry. The professor said that the performance of the new concrete slab using glass reinforcement was as expected, and field monitoring instruments were installed. The life span of the concrete slab can reach 100 years.