Missouri S&T Scholar's Mine Research RepositoryMissouri S&T Research
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FRP-Concrete/Steel Interfacial Performance Monitoring with Distributed Electromagnetic Pressure Tapes
Externally-bonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets are gaining more acceptance in engineering community for the strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) members. As needs continue to arise in this direction, it is critically important to make sure that the bonding between an FRP sheet and the surface of the RC member to be strengthened is in good condition during the life span of the strengthened member. Electromagnetic pressure tapes are proposed for the measurement of their interfacial pressure so that the bonding condition between them can be inferred along the pressure tape. Currently the design of two pressure tapes for different measurement ranges is almost completed. Two types of RC beam will be cast and strengthened with externally-bonded FRP sheets. In between the FRP sheets and the beam will be placed a pressure tape, as indicated in Figure 1. Each beam will be tested to study the feasibility and sensitivity of measuring the interfacial pressure.