Hybrid fibre-reinforced geopolymer (HFRG) composites as an emerging material in retrofitting aging and seismically-deficient concrete and masonry structures

Abstract

Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) systems have recently become popular in repairing concrete or masonry structures because of their inherent advantages. In spite of these benefits, FRPs have drawbacks having low fire resistance, poor environmental sustainability and incompatibilty with the substrate concrete. The effort to address these issues has led to the development of an emerging strain hardening cementitious (SHC) material using an inorganic polymer known as hybrid fibre-reinforced geopolymer (HFRG) composites. Compared with cement-based SHC composites, HFRG has better bond performance to concrete substrates, higher fire resistance, greater corrosion durability and helps to reduce CO2 emissions. This paper reviews the recent development of HFRG composites as an emerging repair material. Literature reveals that flowability of a fresh HFRG mixture decreases with increasing fibre content though still workable up to 2% fibre volume. Fibre synergy could result in 10–181% higher flexural toughness of geopolymer composites than when just using mono fibres. The application of HFRG composites to RC beams increased displacement ductility by to 263%. To date, there has been no reported field application of HFRG as a repair material though mono-fibre FRG has been field-applied as a strengthening material in large-diameter sewer RC pipes, RC culverts, RC sewerage manholes and dam surface improvement.