Efficient infrastructure systems such as highways, bridges, buildings, pipelines, flood control systems (waterways) and utilities are all necessary for healthy economy and comfortable standard of living. Concrete and steel are the backbones of our current civil infrastructure. Timber, a natural composite, also plays a major role as a structural material both in North America and China especially for residential construction. However, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites (fibers, resins and additives) are just beginning to gain acceptability in civil infrastructure and being promoted as the materials of 21st century because of their superior corrosion resistance, excellent thermo-mechanical properties, and high strength-to-weight ratio. FRPs are also ‘greener’ in terms of embodied energy than concrete and steel. Through proper selection of polymeric resin systems and reinforcements, FRPs can be tailor-made to meet certain strength and performance requirements. The use of FRP composites in civil infrastructure can improve innovation, increase productivity, enhance performance, minimize user inconveniences, and provide longer service lives, i.e. reduced life-cycle costs.

 

The Constructed Facilities Center at West Virginia University (CFC-WVU) is one of the world leaders who in cooperation with government and industry have made major strides in developing FRPs for infrastructure applications. For over 25 years, the CFC-WVU has been conducting research on fundamentals of engineering and material sciences, innovation and development including field implementation of FRP composite components and systems for infrastructure applications with emphasis on the enhancement of performance, serviceability and durability over conventional materials. This presentation will provide an overview on advanced FRP composites for: 1) highways and bridges including recent pre-fabricated pavement application, 2) utility poles, 3) pipelines, 4) renewable energy harvesting, 5) harsh environmental applications such as chimneys/flues and mining industries, 6) rapidly deployable housing, 7) natural composites for green buildings, 8) decking for marine and naval structures, 9) advanced retrofitting, and 10) others. The Center has been involved in building a number of structures in the field using FRP composites. Those structures are being monitored for their structural response and durability and have been performing outstandingly, demonstrating remarkable advantages including cost effectiveness. Last, future research directions on materials for civil engineering innovation and structures are presented with emphasis on durability and sustainability.