CHAPTER 1
 INTRODUCTION

 Prestressed concrete piles are widely used in marine environments to support

docks, piers, bridges and other waterfront structures. Corrosion of the reinforcement

caused by the penetration of the sea salts through the concrete can cause severe

deterioration. Corrosion of the steel reinforcement reduces the structural capacity of the

concrete pile rendering it, in extreme cases, unable to perform the function for which it

was designed. Furthermore, corrective or protective measures that can slow corrosion

rates have to be adopted which results in higher maintenance costs. Corrosion will

eventually force replacement of the pile and the structure it supports. Therefore, the

service life of the whole structure is dependent upon the service life of the piles

supporting it. Even if repair and protective measures are employed to extend the life of

the structure, they are costly, time consuming and rarely add significantly to the service

life.

 Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcement has been researched for a

number of years as a potential replacement for steel reinforcement. CFRP reinforcement

is formed by bundling carbon fibers into a round shape and saturating with an appropriate

resin. These bars can be fabricated to have strength and stiffness comparable to that of

steel. The significant advantage that CFRP reinforcement holds over steel is that it is

highly resistant to deterioration in a harsh marine environment. One of the primary

reasons, however, that the CFRP reinforcement has not seen wider use is its lack of

ductility. CFRP bars when loaded in tension, exhibit linear stress-strain behavior up to