Effects of Saline Water Immersion on Glass Fibrelvinyl-Ester Wrapped Concrete Columns

Development and use of polymer composite systems to strengthen concrete structures externally is becoming more and more attractive in both civil and maritime applications. The objective of this experimental study was to evaluate the environmental effect on strengthening efficiency of FRP wraps (glass woven roving or combined woven roving/chopped strand mat with a vinyl-ester resin) for concrete columns. Moisture absorption of FRP laminates immersed in saline water was investigated, and ultimate tensile and compressive strengths of glass/vinyl-ester laminates were characterised. FRP wrapped concrete columns were also immersed in saline water with the same conditions for the composite coupon specimens. The experimental results indicated that strengthening efficiency was reduced for the immersed columns, however, it still remained in an effective strengthening level. The combined woven roving/chopped strand mat wrap has less reduction in strengthening efficiency than the woven roving one.