For decades, the composites industry has been pushing for the widespread use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) rebar in infrastructure construction. Now, the industry is starting to see some major wins.
In an interview with CompositesWorld magazine, John Busel, vice president of composites growth initiatives with the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA), credited University of Miami’s Antonio Nanni, professor and chair of the College of Engineering’s Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, with being at the forefront of FRP rebar movement. Busel gives significant credit for the acceptance of FRP rebar to the leadership and vision of Nanni.
Nanni has studied composite rebar for years and has provided data to the American Concrete Institute (ACI) that proves the material’s long-term durability. Nanni also leads an effort to develop concrete mixtures using seawater instead of fresh water, initiating the SEACON project with US and Italian partners to demonstrate the technology at scale. FRP rebar is a key to success, as seawater contains 300-500 times the chloride content of fresh water. The implications for island nations and arid coasts where fresh water is in short supply is significant.
Click here to read the full CompositesWorld story.
