Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials have tremendous potential for strengthening damaged structures at low costs. Studies have shown that the load-carrying ability of FRP materials is related to the bonding of the epoxy to the substrate. One factor affecting the bond behavior is the roughness of the surface.
The objectives of this project are to prepare surfaces of differing intensities and classes of roughnesses, measure the roughness using a laser profilometer, bond FRP sheets to the surfaces, and test the bond strengths with a pull-off tester. Analyses will determine which type of roughness results in the highest bond strength.
