Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRP), also called composite materials, is popularly used in structural strengthening for steel, wood, concrete, seaport and aerospace applications because of their cost-effectiveness and superior performance in high strength, light weight,corrosion resistance, bomb blast and earthquake protections. FRP wraps are easy to apply and can be used on any size or shape of structural member. Traditional techniques for strengthening, such as adding concrete and reinforcing steel around the outside of a structural member, external post-tensioning, or adding structural steel supports (shoring) often are more expensive due to the extra work to get everything into place. In some cases, it might be used on new construction, although at this time that is usually only in response to some sort of design or construction error. In appropriate applications, FRP strengthening can be 30% to 50% less expensive than traditional strengthening due to the ease of installation.
Advantages
. Increases flexural, shear or confinement strengthening of structural members.
. Where speedy repair and high strengths are required.