Fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) are used as internal reinforcement in new RC structures such as slabs, beams, bridges, multi-story car parks to overcome the corrosion problem of steel. Although FRP reinforcement have been widely investigated for such structures, only a few researchers have studied the behaviour of FRP reinforced RC frames under in-place loading (seismic loading). As a result, design codes do not provide guidance for RC moment frames internally reinforced with FRP. This lack of data and research hindrance the implementation of such materials as sustainable reinforcement for new constructions.
This study investigates the behaviour of glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) RC frames under in plane loading. The program consists of an experimental phase which include the design, construction and testing of 1/3 scaled down reinforced concrete frames and the analytical phase which consists of developing a finite element model.
After being awarded a BEng degree in Romania, I spent a few years working in the industry as a Cad Technician and Site Engineer. As a part time student, I completed my MSc in Structural Design and Construction Management with Sustainability at Kingston University, London, while working full time as a technician at South Thames College. Currently, I am working full time as a Senior Technician in the Civil Engineering Laboratories at Kingston University where I carry out demonstrations and teach undergraduate level students in the labs, assist and guide students with their lab projects and support them to develop their research skills. In collaboration with a software developer, I successfully upgraded the capture of data equipment for the seismic load testing rig.
https://www.wiresmithtech.com/articles/developing-accurate-seismic-load-testing-for-kingston-university-in-london/
George Hopartean, Ted Donchev, Diana Petkova, Costas Georgopoulos, Mukesh Limbachiya, Z. El Kashik, Experimental investigation of FRP reinforced RC frames under Cyclic in-plane loading, Proceedings of the International Conference FRPRCS14, Belfast, 2019
George Hopartean, Ted Donchev, Diana Petkova, Costas Georgopoulos, Mukesh Limbachiya and Noel Parnada, Experimental testing of medium scale GFRP reinforced concrete frames, Concrete Solutions 7th International Conference on Concrete Repair, Volume 289, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2019