SEEM501

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMEN

Mohamed Nabil 2013260072

1 November 2014

SEEM501
CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINORCEMEN
By Mohamed Nabil, student in MSc in structural engineering
British University in Dubai

Module Tutor: Professor Abid Abu Tair, professor of Structural Engineering BUID

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

Presentation outline
What is Carbon Fiber ?

History of Carbon Fiber.

Carbon Fiber production technique.
Carbon Fiber properties.

Repairing structures by using Carbon Fiber.

Advantages of using Carbon Fiber in repairing structures.
Disadvantages of using Carbon Fiber in repairing structures.

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

What is Carbon Fiber?

Carbon Fiber is defined as a fiber containing at least 92% carbon from its weight, while
the fiber containing at least 99% carbon from its weight is usually called a graphite
fiber. Carbon Fiber consist a fibers its diameter about 5 10 m and composed mostly of
carbon atoms.

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

History of Carbon Fiber

In late 1879, Thomas Edison was the first to use carbon fibers as
filaments for early light bulbs.

In late 1950's that high tensile strength carbon fibers were

discovered. Rayon became the first precursors used to create
these modern fibers. Ultimately, it was replaced by more

effective materials such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and

pitch.

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

Carbon Fiber production technique

A. Based on pitch (coal tar and petroleum products)

B. Based on Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

Carbon Fiber production technique

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

Carbon Fiber properties

HIGH STRENGTH TO WEIGHT RATIO

The relation between the material strength and its density is an indication for how come this
material can provide a specific strength with specific density.
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TO WEIGHT

NO

MATERIAL
RATIO ((KN/m2)/kg)

Spectra fiber

3619

Kevlar

2514

Carbon Fiber

2457

Glass Fiber

1307

Steel alloy

254

Aluminum alloy

222

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

Carbon Fiber properties

RIGID MATERIAL
To measure the rigidity for any material, it can be from measuring the material young's
modulus. Young's modulus is the relation between stress and strain for any material.

NO

MATERIAL

YOUNG'S MODULUS - GPa

Carbon fiber reinforced plastic

181

Steel alloy

200

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

Carbon Fiber properties

CORROSION AND CHEMICAL RESISTANCE MATERIAL

The carbon fiber as composite material has very good resistance to corrosion and chemical
effects. For example in the repairing of cracked beam, the repairing can done by apply the
carbon fiber to the defects areas with glue without any concrete cover unlike steel
reinforcement.

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

10

Carbon Fiber properties

HIGH TENSILE STRENGTH

The ultimate stress of the carbon fiber is always equal to 5 to 10 time the yielding stress in the steel.

Material

yield
strength -

Ultimate strength
- MPa

MPa

Steel, structural

250

400-550

414

483

N/A

1600 for laminates,

ASTM A36 steel

Aluminum
alloy[15] 2014-T6
Carbon fiber

4137 for fibers

alone
Copper 99.9% Cu

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

70

220

11

Carbon Fiber properties

ABILITY TO PRODUCE COMPLEX SHAPES AND DIFFERENT SIZES

One of the advantages of carbon fiber and composites is that virtually any shape or size can be
fabricated. All that is required is a tool, or mold, that is used to form the layers of carbon fiber.

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

12

Repairing structures by using Carbon Fiber

The carbon fiber reinforced polymers can used in different aspect in civil industries, such as

but not limited to infrastructure pipeline, bridges and buildings.

The carbon fiber materials can used in different stages, such as construction stage as a part
of reinforced concrete used to resist the tensile forces and stress. Also can used in post
construction stage in the repairing and strengthening operation of structural elements.

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

13

Repairing structures by using Carbon Fiber

The following list shows the types of

CFRP shapes and place of use in the
structures:

Plates and strips, used to strengthen the

horizontal structure elements such as slabs and

bridges decks to resist bending stress and
repair the cracks in the structural elements.

Wrapped sheets, to enhance the shear stress in

beams. And strengthening the columns

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

14

Advantages of using Carbon Fiber in repairing structures

Strength N/mm2
1800

Strength of CFRP

1600
1400

The ultimate strength of CFRP is likely

1200

to be at least five times the ultimate

1000

strength of steel for the same cross-

800

sectional area.

600
400
200
0

Steel

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

Glass Fiber

Carbon Fiber

15

Advantages of using Carbon Fiber in repairing structures

Low

weight

of

CFRP

&

Reduce

construction period

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

16

Advantages of using Carbon Fiber in repairing structures

Durability
CFRP plates do not suffer from such deterioration
because it is a chemical composite material has good
resistance to corrosion and chemical effects.
Steel reinforcement which used in the repairing of
concrete

structures

most

of

time

suffer

from

corrosion, because it will be installed without

concrete cover.

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

17

Advantages of using Carbon Fiber in repairing structures

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

18

Advantages of using Carbon Fiber in repairing structures

Maintenance

of

strengthening

system
Steel plates will required maintenance in the long
term after the installation in the repaired structures

like waterproofing and firefighting repainting.

CFRP

composite

plates

will

not

require

such

maintenance.

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

19

Advantages of using Carbon Fiber in repairing structures

Sustainable and green material

The using of CFRP in building industries increase the
structure life time. This may lead to decrease the
demand of the building materials like cement and steel.

As known, the cement production has a big effect on the

ecological footprint because it is produce huge amount of
carbon dioxide.

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

20

Disadvantages of using Carbon Fiber in repairing structures

High initial cost of CFRP production

CFRP composite plates are more expensive than steel plates
of the equivalent load capacity.

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

21

THANK YOU

ANY

CARBON FIBER VS STEEL REINFORCEMENT

?
22