Accelerated Testing of Epoxy-FRP Composites for Civil Infrastructure Applications: Property Changes and Mechanisms of Degradation

Abstract

Accelerated testing of FRP systems is frequently performed due to the long service life of these materials used to repair damaged civil structures. This testing typically involves exposure to common environmental conditions seen in the field. However, the main limitation of these experiments is that the testing protocols typically do not consider a change in the failure mechanism as a result of the temperature of the testing in relation to the glass transition temperature of the polymer. This review article presents methods and limits of accelerated testing of epoxies and FRP-concrete composites, and the mechanisms of property loss for these systems.

Keywords:

• accelerated
• epoxy
• FRP
• degradation
• properties
• mechanisms