23 Mar 2026

Experimental Evaluation of Corroded Steel Beams Retrofitted with Fiber-Reinforced Polymers

Abstract: Corrosion represents one of the main threats to steel structures working in harsh conditions. It compromises the safety and integrity of marine structures, reducing their lifespan and increasing their maintenance cost. Recent studies investigated the use of fiber-reinforced polymers to repair corroded steel structures; however, these studies showed unmatured debonding behavior, stopping short of examining the impact of these repairs on the ductility of different steel elements. In this study, we conduct a series of full-scale experimental tests to investigate the impact of chemical corrosion on steel beams as well as the impact of repairing the beams using carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) and basalt fiber–reinforced polymer (BFRP) in enhancing the beams’ structural performance. Corrosion, introduced to the beams’ tension flange and web elements, is used to establish a baseline dataset that captures the impact of repairs on corroded steel surfaces. The results show that the reduction of the flange and web section lowers the beams’ yielding load by 10% and 1%, respectively, compared with a beam with a full cross section. CFRP and BFRP patches can partially restore the corroded beams’ ductility; however, the fracture of the CFRP patches reduces the beam strength by 31% compared with its ultimate strength.

11 Jul 2024

Composite Material Applications and Research Roadmap for US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works

Abstract: This report discusses and ranks the remaining research, development, and deployment opportunities for fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials in USACE marine infrastructure applications. Following the successes of at least 10 fiber-reinforced polymer composite pilot projects from 2015 to 2022, Public Law 117-58, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, allocated funding for a roadmap report that articulates lingering implementation barriers and prioritizes steps to overcome those challenges through laboratory and field experimentation. The objective analysis herein draws from real Operational Condition Assessment data generated in the field. Key opportunities lie in inspection techniques, standardized design approaches for molded components, and improved guidance to ad-dress abrasion, fatigue, and concentrated load cases at the 10-meter scale.

11 Jan 2024

Simulated Barge Impacts on Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRP) Composite Sandwich Panels: Dynamic Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to Develop Force Time Histories to Be Used on Experimental Testing

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dynamic response of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite sandwich panels subjected to typical barge impact masses and velocities to develop force time histories that can be used in controlled experimental testing. Dynamic analyses were performed on FRP composite sandwich panels using the finite element method software Abaqus/Explicit. The “traction-separation” law in the Abaqus software is used to define the cohesive surface interaction properties to evaluate the damage between FRP composite laminate layers as well as the core separation within the sandwich panels. Numerical models were developed to better under-stand the damage caused by barge impacts and the effects of impacts on the dynamic response of composite structures. Force, displacement, and velocity time histories were obtained with finite element modeling for several mass and velocity cases to develop experimental testing procedures for these types of structures.