1 research outputs found
FRP-to-masonry bond durability assessment with infrared thermography method
The bond behavior between FRP composites and masonry substrate plays an important role
in the performance of externally bonded reinforced masonry structures. Therefore, monitoring
the bond quality during the application and subsequent service life of a structure is of crucial
importance for execution control and structural health monitoring. The bond quality can change
during the service life of the structure due to environmental conditions. Local detachments may
occur at the FRP/substrate interface, affecting the bond performance to a large extent. Therefore, the use of expedite and efficient non-destructive techniques for assessment of the bond quality
and monitoring FRP delamination is of much interest.
Active infrared thermography (IR) technique was used in this study for assessing the bond
quality in environmentally degraded FRP-strengthened masonry elements. The applicability and
accuracy of the adopted method was initially validated by localization and size quantification of
artificially embedded defects in FRP-strengthened brick specimens. Then, the method was used
for investigating the appearance and progression of FRP delaminations due to environmental
conditions. GFRP-strengthened brick specimens were exposed to accelerated hygrothermal
ageing tests and inspected periodically with the IR camera. The results showed environmental
exposure may produce large progressive FRP delaminations.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi