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KN01

The document discusses the historical development and challenges of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) in construction, highlighting significant milestones and applications since the 1950s. Despite initial optimism and successful applications in rehabilitation, new construction using FRP has faced economic hurdles, particularly due to high material costs. The author emphasizes the importance of patience and perseverance in advancing FRP technology, suggesting that while progress has been made, further development is still needed.

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Sunny Hsueh
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18 views

KN01

The document discusses the historical development and challenges of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) in construction, highlighting significant milestones and applications since the 1950s. Despite initial optimism and successful applications in rehabilitation, new construction using FRP has faced economic hurdles, particularly due to high material costs. The author emphasizes the importance of patience and perseverance in advancing FRP technology, suggesting that while progress has been made, further development is still needed.

Uploaded by

Sunny Hsueh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The 7 International Conference on FRP Composites in Civil Engineering

International Institute for FRP in Construction

FRP IN CONSTRUCTION: IT WAS A LONG WAY TO GO


Urs MEIER
Prof. Dr. h.c., Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Switzerland
[email protected]

Keywords: GFRP; CFRP; shells; domes; external bonded strips; cables; CO2 conversion; patience.
ABSTRACT: There was not only an avant-garde in art, music, or literature working with new and
experimental ideas and methods, but also in FRP in construction. MIT-Professors created 1956 with the
support of the Monsanto Company the GFRP House of Future that, as we all know today, was not. The
very successful designer and builder of concrete shells, H. Isler built few years later translucent domes,
shells, coffer roofs and folded structures made out of GFRP. These structures last now without any
problems since fifty to sixty years, but they were also not the future. On the other side common use
applications of GFRP like huge storage silos, tanks and flue gas cleaning plants as well as water
pipelines have been commercially very successful since the same time.
In the 1980ties, few individuals in Europe, Japan, Canada and the USA tackled the topic “FRP in
construction” again. On one side, there were visions for long span bridges and high raised towers, on the
other side innovative concepts for the rehabilitation of existing structures. The main focus changed
relatively fast to the latter. Nevertheless wide success was also in this domain at the beginning not
granted. From the first idea to use externally bonded CFRP strips to strengthen reinforced concrete
structures until commercial take-off, it took twelve years. Today the amount of carbon fibers used for the
rehabilitation of civil structures is about similar to that of the aircraft industry. Also the most enthusiastic
FRP proponents did not dream about such a success in the 1990ties. In new construction however, again
not much happened. Its time has not yet come. One reason is the relative high cost for carbon fibers. One
example: CFRP cables cannot compete against those of steel for suspended structures as long as only
the first investment costs are considered.
The Bayer Company announced the “Dream Process”. Companies and researchers are developing
techniques that use carbon dioxide emissions as chemical starting materials. CO2 from industrial
exhausts can be converted into polymer feedstock and therefore also for into CFRP. Following a two-year
test phase, Bayer will commercialize the use of carbon dioxide as a raw material for polymers in 2015.
About the cost effectiveness there is little known until now. The economic side might not yet be
overwhelming, but first applications of CFRPs in construction started also in a time, when the costs for
these materials were still prohibitive.
Time, patience and tenacity, Jules Verne used to write, are most important, because everything which
has been achieved in this world, was done thanks to exaggerated hopes. This statement is very
appropriate for the development of FRP in construction. It started in the 1950ties with exaggerated hopes.
No corrosion, lightweight, high strength, easy application, no maintenance needed, these were the
promises and the driving forces for research, development and early applications. Time, patience and
tenacity were needed to defeat setbacks and disappointments. Many risks were finally the bow wave of
success. It was a long way to here (Fig. 1), but it is still a long way to go. Monier invented reinforced
concrete 147 years in the past. The GFRP House of the Future happened only 48 years ago and Nelson
Mandela reminds us that it always seems impossible until it is done.

Fig. 1 –From left to right some milestones of FRP applications: Monsanto House (1956), Roof of
Middle School Geisslingen (1967), Ibach Bridge (1991), Aberfeldy Footbridge (1992), Beddington
Trail Bridge (1993), Stork Bridge (1996), Eyecatcher (1999) and West Mill Bridge (2002)

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