There is no denying the fact that glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) technology offers many advantages over traditional materials such as aluminum and steel. One of the biggest benefits of composite construction products is long service life and reduced maintenance cost of ownership over the life cycle of a concrete structure. This blog post will provide a brief overview of the following major benefits of GFRP reinforcement:
Corrosion-free concrete structures
Fiberglass rebar is designed to withstand some of the toughest environments including industrial waste and sea water. It is certainly an economically viable choice for the construction industry considering the rising rehabilitation costs of steel-reinforced structures. Unlike steel, fiberglass rebar does not corrode and requires minimal maintenance to achieve long service life.
Concrete structures such as water treatment facilities and bridges are subject to perpetual environmental pressure. It is a challenge for engineers to build these structures with sustainable materials while remaining within budget. Fortunately, the continuous technological advancements, long-term strength and cost-effectiveness make fiberglass rebar an ideal choice for critical civil engineering applications.
Low transportation and installation costs
Fiberglass rebar is an inherently lightweight construction material which does not require heavy equipment during the transportation or installation process. These characteristics of being lightweight material enables project management teams to save time and money. Quick delivery of project materials puts less burden on the public. For example, a deteriorated bridge can be rehabilitated with GFRP in a time-efficient manner. When compared to traditional steel, fiberglass rebar is ¼ the weight of steel and delivers 2x tensile strength.
Zero maintenance
Billions of dollars are spent every year to maintain existing, structurally deficient concrete structures. More than 55,000 bridges in the US are structurally deficient and in need of repair or replacement. The major reason why these structures have deteriorated before reaching their expected service life is the corrosion of steel reinforcement. GFRP-reinforced structures do not require maintenance or any major rehabilitation activity. The widespread use of GFRP reinforcement can save the world billions of dollars every year.
Electromagnetic neutrality
The non-magnetic properties of fiberglass rebar make the material ideal for many sensitive applications such as research, medical and IT facilities.
Traditional reinforced concrete is used in the construction industry largely due to low initial cost and vast experience of its use in practice. However, we need to implement innovative construction materials such as fiberglass rebar in order to build more sustainable and cost-effective concrete infrastructure.
TUF-BAR is one of the leading GFRP fiberglass rebar manufacturers in North America. We produce the highest quality fiberglass rebar, a lighter and stronger alternative to traditional steel rebar. Visit our site for more information!
