A fair dinkum approach to fibre composites in civil engineering

Over the past 10 years, Australian researchers have actively pursued the development of new structural systems utilising fibre composites, for the rehabilitation and replacement of deteriorating civil infrastructure. The result has been a range of new systems which offer unprecedented levels of functionality at a cost which is directly competitive with traditional structural materials. Several of these systems have been successfully demonstrated in real world projects. To encourage these developments, the Australian composites industry has been investing in programs to develop codes and standards, and to establish an appropriate regulatory framework to ensure confidence in manufacture, supply and installation of composite products. This paper presents an overview of Australian research into infrastructure applications of fibre composites and associated industry development programs.