Paper number 516

STRENGTHENING OF TUNNEL SUPPORTS USING CARBON FIBRE COMPOSITES

S.S.J. Moy1, F.Barnes2, J. Moriarty3, A.F. Dier4, A. Kenchington5, B. Iverson6

1Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, U.K.
2Devonport Management Limited, Devonport Royal Dockyard, Plymouth, PL1 4SG, U.K.
3London Underground Limited, 30 The Colonnade, London, E14 5EU, U.K.
4MSL Engineering Limited, MSL House, 5-7 High Street, Sunninghill, Ascot, SL5 9NQ, U.K.
5Structural Statics, Burntwood, Kings Worthy, Winchester, SO21 1AD, U.K.
6Defense Research Agency, Structural Materials Centre, R178 Building, DERA Farnborough, GU14 6TD, U.K.

Summary A research programme into the strengthening and life extension of tunnel supports using carbon fibre composites is presented. Details are given of a CFRP beam that will be used to relieve the load on the existing tunnel support and also provide an alternative load path to support the loads above the tunnel. The progressive damage non-linear finite element analysis of the beam is explained as is the static and fatigue testing of the beam. A complementary test programme of coupon testing to examine the degradation of CFRP in aggressive conditions is also briefly described. It is shown that the technology developed is applicable to other infrastructure applications.
Keywords construction; infrastructure; strengthening, life extension; carbon fibre composite, strength and durability, design guide.

Theme : Reinforcement and repair in Civil Engineering and Building Construction

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