OUTDOOR EXPOSURE AND IMMERSION TESTS ON THE ALKALI RESISTANCE OF PULTRUDED GFRP

Abstract

 This paper presents outdoor exposure and immersion tests on the alkali resistance of pultruded GFRP with in-filled mortar. An outdoor exposure test at Tsukuba exposure site shows that outdoor exposure from 6 to 11 months reduced the tensile strength of GFRP to about 70% of the initial tensile strength. An alkali immersion test shows that the tensile strength of GFRP decreased as alkali immersion time increased. A prediction model for alkali action is used to discuss the relationship between the outdoor exposure and immersion tests, and calculated tensile strength by the model agrees well with the result of outdoor exposure test, which depends on the alkali concentration.