USE OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS TO REPAIR STEEL STRUCTURES VULNERABLE TO FATIGUE DAMAGE

Abstract

This study investigates mainly two different topics related to the use of CFRP's for strengthening and repair of steel bridges: the use of CFRP's to prevent damage in fatigue vulnerable welded connections prior to fatigue-crack initiation, and the use of CFRP's to stall the propagation of fatigue cracks in welded connections and in steel plates subjected to tension. The findings are discussed in three different papers presented in the following chapter.