Airey Taylor Consulting initiated research in conjunction with University of Western Australia regarding the use of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars in concrete since 2011. The research centres on the use of these bars as concrete compression members as concrete compression members for internal reinforcement in concrete. This research has global significance to the construction industry as traditional steel reinforcement rusts and causes “concrete cancer” – a problem for the durability of buildings world-wide.
Our world-first research on the use of GFRP in compression members was published in 2012. Corrosion tests undertaken by Airey Taylor Consulting and the University of Western Australia prove that GFRP bars are not subject to the same type of corrosion displayed by steel. A compelling case could be made for their use in jetty structures where environmental conditions are harsh and the major design condition is bending and axial stress.
Test results then published by the University of Sherbrooke in Canada in 2013 proved that GFRP is not subject to the same type of corrosion as steel – so it dramatically extends the life of structures over any other load bearing material.
We have successfully implemented this research at the Majestic Boardwalk at Point Dundas at Applecross for the City of Melville in 2014 – vastly improving the design life to an estimated 75 years.
There are important economic advantages to using GFRP bars. While GFRP materials have a slight premium over traditional steel reinforcement (5% at Majestic Boardwalk), this cost is offset by the decrease in labour time due to the easier handling of the lower weight material. Crucially, lack of corrosion and elimination of associated structural degradation eliminates the maintenance and replacement costs of steel reinforcement.
The results of this study also relate to the ductility of the reinforcement, failure mode of the member and warning before failure – and our findings indicate higher safety factors can be employed when designing GFRP reinforced members.
The advantages of GFRP reinforcement as a substitute for traditional steel reinforcing bars:
- Corrosion resistance – lack of rust protects against “concrete cancer”
- Higher tensile strength
- Lightweight (approximately ¼ the density of steel)
- Bars are non-magnetic
- Low thermal and electrical conductivity.
Majestic Boardwalk, Dundas Point, Applecross
Airey Taylor Consulting has successfully designed and constructed the remediation of the Majestic Board walk in Applecross, using GFRP bars to reinforce the foundations and columns of the structure. It is anticipated that the boardwalk substructure will have a design life of in excess of 75 years.
Our Innovations
Top down Construction
Claylock and Retroclay
Rammed earth walling system
Value engineering
Glass fibre reinforced polymer
Research and Development
