Description
This paper focuses on a strengthening intervention carried out in 1996 on reinforced concrete (RC) portal frame structures using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (C-FRP). In that period, there were no standards or guidelines (both national and international) governing the design procedure, which also lacked specific details, thereby requiring that the design of the intervention be based on a careful analysis of data obtained by suitable experimental tests. Today, nearly two decades after the execution of the intervention, the C-FRP-strengthened structure has maintained its structural integrity. This result not only validates the adopted design procedure but also confirms the significant advantages in terms of durability and lower maintenance costs associated with the use of C-FRP materials compared to traditional solutions such as concrete and steel. In this context, the effectiveness of the structural rehabilitation design, based on the experimental data, was then compared with current design procedures given by national and/or international guidelines. Through a comparative assessment of the two procedures and their respective results, it was possible to highlight the relevance of experimental studies for design purposes and to provide comprehensive data about the long-term durability of FRP-strengthened RC structures.
