Development of reliability-based design guidelines for FRP structures

Project name: Development of reliability-based design guidelines for FRP structures

Project code: RELIABLE-FRP

Project timeline: 2022 - 2024

Research group: Mechanical Design

Objective

FRP materials present several advantages over traditional construction materials, such as light weight, high strength, thermal insulation and non-corrodibility. Additionally, FRPstructures allow for easier transportation and faster execution. These advantages could potentially lead to more efficient building practices; for instance, there have been increasing maintenance requirements in urban infrastructures, due to corrosion issues. This issue has led to the allocation of significant funds towards maintenance, instead of other areas ofsocietal development and could be mitigated by implementing FRP materials. However, the use of FRP structures in civil engineering is still strongly hindered by the lack of well-established design codes, grounded on structural reliability studies. This lack of reliable design guidelines can lead to the construction of inefficient and unsafe FRP structures. Thisproject aims at solving this issue, by developing reliability-based design tools that enable a safer, more economic and sustainable implementation of FRP structures. Furthermore, thedesign methods and experimental results to be developed within this project, will be made available in an open access database, in order to promote further innovation in regard toFRPs in construction, beyond the project timeline. Therefore, by promoting sustainable and safer practices, as well as innovation in the construction sector, this project is aligned withGoals 9 and 11 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Project team

Publications