Nondestructive Evaluation of Damage in GFRP Bars Using Ultrasonic Guided Waves
Publication: Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 25, Issue 6
Abstract
Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars are a common alternative to steel reinforcement, offering economical and safety benefits of avoiding/limiting corrosion in traditionally reinforced concrete structures (e.g., parking garages, buildings, and bridges). However, estimating the life of GFRP structures represents a challenge for the construction industry. The experimental program described in this paper is designed to evaluate progressive damage of GFRP bars due to a highly alkaline environment using ultrasonic nondestructive testing (NDT). The evaluation of damage in GFRP bars is performed using a new methodology based on the analysis of relative changes not only in wave velocity and but also in wave amplitude. The actual displacement time histories (nm) generated by the ultrasonic transducers are directly measured with a high-frequency laser Doppler vibrometer. The measurement of the actual ultrasonic displacements as a function of frequency is a required step for the new amplitude-based approach used in this study. Finally, NDT results (low-strain measurements) are correlated with the reduction of shear strength obtained from destructive shear tests (large-strain measurements). The results show that ultrasonic parameters (e.g., wave velocity and amplitude) correctly capture deterioration in the GFRP bars, and for the samples studied, ultrasonic parameters can be used to estimate the shear strength reduction with the induced damage. The maximum error in the estimation of shear strength using ultrasonic measurements is less than 7%.
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Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC Discovery and CRD programs). The authors are also thankful for the useful recommendations of the anonymous reviewers that helped to improve the manuscript, as well as the useful recommendations and the review of the manuscript by Mr. Ed Ginzel of the Materials Research Institute.
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Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 25 • Issue 6 • December 2021
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Sep 28, 2020
Accepted: Aug 13, 2021
Published online: Oct 13, 2021
Published in print: Dec 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Mar 13, 2022
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