Determination of Mechanical Properties of FRP Materials Using the DIC Method

The mechanical properties of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials have been of great interest in recent years as the applications of these materials in civil engineering and other industries have expanded. However, the utilization of FRP products, especially for new materials, has been limited because of a lack of complete knowledge about their properties. The primary objective of this study is to determine the various mechanical properties of five commonly used FRP materials. The study found that carbon FRP and high-strength glass FRP would be the best suitable materials for rehabilitation of structural elements when an increase in strength and stiffness is the primary objective. However, basalt FRP and E-glass FRP would be a far better choice for rehabilitation when ductility is the primary objective. The other objective of this study was to evaluate the application of a new digital technology, known as digital image correlation (DIC) technique, for the determination of mechanical properties of FRP materials. In this study, the strain data obtained from the DIC method were validated with strain data obtained from conventional methods (strain gage). It was found that DIC is a reliable and accurate noncontact testing method that can be successfully used for determining mechanical properties of various FRP materials.