Author(s): Dushimimana, Aloys ; Correia, Luís Luciano Gouveia ; Cruz, José Ricardo Loureiro ; Cabral-Fonseca, Susana ; Pereira, João Miguel ; Sena-Cruz, José
Date: 2022
Persistent ID: https://hdl.handle.net/1822/81293
Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Subject(s): Strengthening technique; CFRP laminate; Epoxy adhesive; Natural ageing; Bond behaviour
Ageing of interfaces between Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminates and concrete, applied according to externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) and near-surface mounted (NSM) techniques, and their constitutive materials was investigated. That is, experimental tests on the ageing of concrete, epoxy adhesive, CFRP laminate, and the CFRP-concrete interface were performed for specimens after being exposed to different natural outdoor environments to promote degradation due to carbonation, chlorides, freeze-thaw attacks, and high temperatures. Besides, tests of the reference specimens, kept under a control environment of 20 °C and 55% RH, and of specimens continuously immersed in water with a controlled temperature of 20 °C were also included for comparison purposes. The characterization of physical and mechanical properties of the involved materials, and the degradation of CFRP-concrete interface for the specimens strengthened according to EBR and NSM techniques were assessed for a study period of up to four years. The results generally showed significant variations in the properties of the concrete and adhesive while the ageing of CFRP was found insignificant in all the studied environments. Besides, slight variations of the bond strength were observed, probably as a result of changes in the constitutive materials’ mechanical properties with time and environmental exposure.
