Exposure test and long-term characteristics for CFRP structural members

FRP material has good characteristics such as light-weight, high-strength and high-corrosion resistance. Light-weight structure possesses some advantages over the seismic load and rational constructing procedure. In Japan, the innovative light-weight spatial structures having double layered truss roof consisting of CFRP were constructed in 1998. The structural weight is approximately 150N/m2, and its member weight is only 10N/m. It means that the CFRP structural system may be an alternative revolutionary class in comparison to others using conventional structural materials such as steel and concrete. Thus, it would be very important to make clear the long-term characteristics of the CFRP structural members. In this study, the long-term exposure test of the prestressed CFRP members have been carried out in the past twelve years. And now, the mechanical characteristics of CFRP members are discussed on the results of the static loading-unloading test.