ABSTRACT

Abstract When plates are used as external reinforcement to strengthen or upgrade concrete structures, it is important to ensure that the technique is cost-effective, has durable service life and leads to ductile flexural failures. Non-metallic FRP plates have many engineering and practical advantages, and offer an exciting opportunity to design structures free from environmental deterioration. However, a critical evaluation of test data published so far shows that there are still many areas of material and structural implication arising from the use of FRP plates that are not yet clear and that needs to be addressed before confidence and reliability can be assured. The paper suggests that perhaps the approach currently adopted in the use of these materials as external reinforcement needs to be reassessed and re-thought out. Keywords: Plate bonding, FRP sheets, structures, strengthening, rehabilitation, adhesive bonding, design, structural integrity.