Lifetime Performance of GFRP Pultruded Profiles for Structural Applications

Abstract

<p>This paper presents results of an ongoing experimental research performed at IST on two critical topics, regarding the use of glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) pultruded profiles in structural applications: the long-term durability and the fire behaviour. The first part of this paper presents test results on the changes suffered by GFRP pultruded profiles under accelerated exposure to moisture, temperature and UV radiation. Although some reduction was observed in the mechanical properties, the durability tests proved the generally good long-term behaviour of this material. The second part of this paper presents results of experiments on the fire behaviour of GFRP profiles. Large-scale fire resistance tests on both unprotected and protected GFRP profiles (with different active and passive protection systems) were conducted to investigate the thermal and mechanical response of the material under fire and to determine the fire resistance and applicability of the investigated systems.</p>