A concise state-of-the-art survey of fiber-reinforced polymer (also known as fiber-reinforced plastic) composites for construction applications in civil engineering is presented. The paper is organized into separate sections on structural shapes, bridge decks, internal reinforcements, externally bonded reinforcements, and standards and codes. Each section includes a historical review, the current state of the art, and future challenges.

Technical literature on the subject of environmental exposure effects related to determining accelerated test methods for the prediction of long-term performance of FRP composite materials for highway structural applications is reviewed in this paper. Effects of environmental exposure of a chemical and a thermal nature on fiberreinforced polymer (FRP) composites are considered. Such exposures include temperature, moisture and chemicals in liquid solutions or in gaseous mixtures. The effects include the changes in the physical and mechanical properties of the composite materials. Such changes are typically related to the degradation or deterioration of the composite material. Synergistic effects of mechanical load and exposure are also reviewed. The review is divided in topics entitled Materials, Exposure Conditions, Experimental Techniques, Failure Mechanisms and Theoretical Modeling.

The bond properties of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcing bars (rebars) at temperatures ranging from room temperature (20°C) to high temperatures of up to 250°C are discussed in this paper. The bond properties in this temperature range were studied for a number of commercially produced rebars, where different bond “treatments” were applied to FRP rebars. Test results showed a reduction of between 80 and 90% in the bond strength as the temperature increased from 20 to 250°C. In comparison, ordinary deformed steel rebars showed a reduction of only 38% in the same temperature range. In addition, a reduction in the bond stiffness, which was determined from the slope of the ascending branch of the pullout load versus slip curve, was seen as the temperature increased. At elevated temperatures the postpeak bond decrease was gradual as compared with the instantaneous drop at room temperature. Greater sensitivity to high temperatures was seen in FRP rebars, in which the bond relies mainly on the polymer treatment at the surface of the rod.