August 28, 2013

TO: PARTIES INTERESTED IN ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE AND

REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED MASONRY STRENGTHENING USING
EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE
SYSTEMS

SUBJECT: Proposed Revisions to the Acceptance Criteria for Concrete and Reinforced and
Unreinforced Masonry Strengthening Using Externally Bonded Fiber-reinforced
Polymer (FRP) Composite Systems, Subject AC125-1013-R1 (ME/NH)

Hearing Information:
Thursday, October 17, 2013
8:00 am
DoubleTree Hotel
808 South 20th Street
Birmingham, AL 35205
(205) 933-9000

Dear Colleague:

You are invited to comment on proposed revisions to AC125, which will be discussed at the
Evaluation Committee hearing noted above. The criteria is about passive FRP composite
systems used to strengthen existing concrete and masonry structural elements.

The proposed revisions, which are detailed in the enclosed letter from the University of Miami,
dated June 27, 2013, are summarized below.

1. Revisions to Section 1.3 for addition of new ASTM standards and deletion of outdated ASTM
standards.

2. Addition of pure axial compression strengthening test details to Section 5.2.

3. Introduction of new ASTM standards to Section 5.17 (ASTM D7234 and D7522), and deletion
of one ASTM standard (ASTM D4541).

4. Introduction of a new ASTM standard to Table 2 for glass transition temperature testing
(ASTM E1640), and deletion of one ASTM standard (ASTM D4065).

5. Deletion from Table 3 of 10,000 hours of aging test duration.

ICC-ES Staff Comments:

1. The ICC-ES staff would like to solicit public input in regard to proposed revision No. 5, above.
It is the staffs opinion that, unless scientific evidence demonstrating that 3000 hours aging is
sufficient to make a determination about the long-term durability performance of the FRP
AC125-1013-R1 2

composites, environmental aging tests at 10,000 hours are still needed for this purpose and
may still be used by designers and manufacturers as evidence of long-term performance. The
proponent of the criteria who proposed this revision stated that this aging duration has been
removed from the ACI 440 Specification Document (under development), and that this is one
of their reasons for this revision to AC125, (to make the documents consistent). The ICC-ES
staff would like to know why the ACI 440 committee decided to remove aging for 10,000
hours, and how this deletion impacts designers/manufacturers.

2. The following comments are in regard to glass transition temperature measurements (item
No. 4, above):

a. In regard to replacing ASTM D4065 with ASTM E1640, it is the staffs opinion that this
effectively would not be a change at all, since the new version of D4065 (ASTM D4065-
12) does not provide guidance on determining Tg (the old version of ASTM D4065-95
did), and the procedure for determining Tg under ASTM D4065-95 followed the procedure
currently outlined in ASTM E1640 based on Loss Modulus. Therefore, existing report
holders will not need to retest.

b. The ICC-ES staff proposes a new footnote to Table 2 in regard to the addition of the new
Tg test procedure (ASTM E1640). The footnote would say: Tg under ASTM E1640
should be established using the Loss Modulus procedure. This is needed because the
new test method in ASTM E1640 is consistent with the method given in the previous
standard, ASTM D4065.

Should the committee approve the proposed revisions to the criteria, the ICC-ES staff will not
recommend a mandatory compliance date. Compliance with the revised criteria will therefore be
at the option of existing report holders. However, it should be noted that current applicants for
new reports will be required to address any changes that are approved by the committee.

You are invited to submit written comments on this or any other agenda item, or to attend the
Evaluation Committee hearing and present your views in person. If you wish to contribute to the
discussion, please note the following:

1. Regarding written comments:

a. You should submit these via e-mail to es@icc-es.org or by U.S. mail to the Los Angeles
business/regional office to be received by the comments due date.

b. Comments received by September 18, 2013, will be forwarded to the committee before
the meeting, and also will be posted on the ICC-ES web site shortly after the deadline for
submission.

c. ICC-ES will also post to the web site, on October 11, 2013, comments that miss the
above deadline but are received up to ten days before the meeting. On this same date,
memos by the ICC-ES staff, responding to public comments, will be posted to the web
site.
AC125-1013-R1 3

d. If you miss the deadline for materials to be forwarded to the committee, we can still have
your comments available at the hearing if you provide 35 copies, collated, stapled, and
three-hole-punched, either at the meeting itself or to the Los Angeles business/regional
office by October 11, 2013.

e. Proposed criteria, written public comments, and responses by ICC-ES staff will be
available at the meeting on a limited number of CDs for uploading to computers. Also,
while ICC-ES will not provide any printed copies, the hotel business center will have hard
copies for photocopying.

2. Regarding verbal comments:

a. If you plan to speak for more than fifteen minutes, or if you have any special needs related
to a presentation, please notify ICC-ES staff as far as possible in advance. We will
provide a computer, projector, and screen to anyone wishing to make a visual
presentation, which in most cases should be in PowerPoint format.

b. Presentations, and any other visual aids for viewing at the meeting (transparencies,
slides, videos, charts, etc.), must be provided in advance to ICC-ES, in a medium that can
be retained with other records of the meeting.

3. Keep in mind that all materials submitted for committee consideration are part of the public
record, and will not be treated as confidential.

4. Please do not try to communicate with any committee members before the meeting about any
items on the agenda.

We appreciate your interest in the work of the Evaluation Committee. If you have any questions,
please contact me at (800) 423-6587, extension 3721, or Nick Horeczko, P.E., at extension
3260. You may also reach us by e-mail at es@icc-es.org.

Yours very truly,

Mahmut Ekenel, Ph.D., P.E.

Senior Staff Engineer

ME/vc

Encl.

cc: Evaluation Committee

 www.icc-es.org | (800) 423-6587 | (562) 699-0543
ICC EVALUATION SERVICE, LLC,
RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE
1.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of the Evaluation Committee is to monitor
the work of ICC-ES, in issuing evaluation reports; to
evaluate and approve acceptance criteria on which
evaluation reports may be based; and to sponsor related
changes in the applicable codes.
2.0 MEMBERSHIP
2.1 The Evaluation Committee has a membership of
not fewer than nine nor more than twelve, with one of the
members named by the ICC-ES president each year to
serve as the chairmanmoderator.
2.2 All members of the committee shall be
representatives of a body enforcing regulations related to
the built environment.
2.3 Persons are appointed to the committee by the
ICC-ES president, from among individuals who have
formally applied for membership.
2.4 The ICC-ES Board of Managers, using simple
majority vote, shall ratify the nominations of the president.
2.5 Committee membership is for one year, coinciding
with the calendar year. Members may be renominated
and reappointed, but no person shall serve for more than
five consecutive terms.
2.6 In the event that a member is unable to attend a
committee meeting or complete a term on the committee,
the ICC-ES president may appoint a replacement to fill in
at the meeting or for the remainder of the members term.
Any replacement appointed for only one meeting must
have prior experience as a member of the Evaluation
Committee. Appointments under this section (Section 2.6)
are subject to ratification as noted in Section 2.4.
3.0 MEETINGS
3.1 The Evaluation Committee shall schedule
meetings that are open to the public in discharging its
duties under Section 1, subject to Section 3.
3.2 All scheduled meetings shall be publicly
announced.
3.3 Two-thirds of the Evaluation Committee members,
counting the chairman, shall constitute a quorum. A
majority vote of members present is required on any
action. To avoid any tie vote, the chairman may choose to
exercise or not exercise, as necessary, his or her right to
vote.
3.4 In the absence of the chairman-moderator,
Evaluation Committee members present shall elect an
alternate chairman from the committee for that meeting.
The alternate chairman shall be counted as a voting
committee member for purposes of maintaining a
July 22, 2013
A Subsidiary of the International Code Council
committee quorum and to cast a tie-breaking vote of the
committee.
3.5 Minutes of the meetings shall be kept.
3.6 An electronic audio record of meetings shall be
made by ICC-ES; no other audio, video, electronic or
stenographic recordings of the meetings will be permitted.
Visual aids (including, but not limited to, charts, overhead
transparencies, slides, videos, or presentation software)
viewed at meetings shall be permitted only if the presenter
provides ICC-ES before presentation with a copy of the
visual aid in a medium which can be retained by ICC-ES
with its record of the meeting and which can also be
provided to interested parties requesting a copy. A copy of
the ICC-ES recording of the meeting and such visual aids,
if any, will be available to interested parties upon written
request made to ICC-ES together with a payment as
required by ICC-ES to cover costs of preparation and
duplication of the copy. These materials will be available
beginning five days after the conclusion of the meeting but
will no longer be available after one year from the
conclusion of the meeting.
3.7 Parties interested in the deliberations of the
committee should refrain from communicating, whether in
writing or verbally, with committee members regarding
agenda items. All written communications and
submissions regarding agenda items should be delivered
to ICC-ES. All such written communications and
submissions shall be considered nonconfidential and
available for discussion in open session of an Evaluation
Committee meeting, and shall be delivered at least ten
days before the scheduled Evaluation Committee meeting
if they are to be forwarded to the committee. Materials
delivered to ICC-ES at least ten days before the
scheduled meeting will be posted on the ICC-ES web site
(www.icc-es.org) prior to the meeting. After this time,
parties wishing to submit materials for consideration by the
Evaluation Committee must deliver a sufficient number of
copies as directed by ICC-ES. Consideration of materials
not received by ICC-ES at least ten days before the
meeting is at the discretion of the Evaluation Committee.
Following the meeting, ICC-ES will make all materials
considered by the Evaluation Committee available on the
web site for a maximum period of one year following the
meeting. The committee reserves the right to refuse
recognition of communications which do not comply with
the provisions of this section.
4.0 CLOSED SESSIONS
Evaluation Committee meetings shall be open except
that the chairman may call for a closed session to seek
advice of counsel.
5.0 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
Pg 1 of 2
ICC EVALUATION SERVICE, LLC, RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE
5.1 Acceptance criteria are established by the
committee to provide a basis for issuing ICC-ES
evaluation reports on products and systems under codes
referenced in Section 2.0 of the Rules of Procedure for
Evaluation Reports. They also clarify conditions of
acceptance for products and systems specifically
regulated by the codes.
Acceptance criteria may involve a product, material,
method of construction, or service. Consideration of any
acceptance criteria must be in conjunction with a current
and valid application for an ICC-ES evaluation report, an
existing ICC-ES evaluation report, or as otherwise
determined by the Evaluation Committee.
EXCEPTIONS: The following acceptance criteria are
controlled by the ICC-ES executive staff and are not
subject to committee approval:
The Acceptance Criteria for Quality Documentation
(AC10)
The Acceptance Criteria for Test Reports (AC85)
The Acceptance Criteria for Inspections and Inspection
Agencies (AC304)
5.2 Procedure:
5.2.1 Proposed acceptance criteria shall be
developed by the ICC-ES staff and discussed in open
session with the Evaluation Committee during a scheduled
meeting, except as permitted in Section 5.0 of these rules.
5.2.2 Proposed acceptance criteria shall be
available to interested parties at least 30 days before
discussion at the committee meeting.
5.2.3 The committee shall be informed of all
pertinent written communications received by ICC-ES.
5.2.4 Attendees at Evaluation Committee meetings
shall have the opportunity to speak on acceptance criteria
listed on the meeting agenda, to provide information to
committee members.
5.3 Approval of acceptance criteria shall be as
specified in Section 3.3 of these rules.
5.4 Actions of the Evaluation Committee may be
appealed in accordance with the ICC-ES Rules of
Procedure for Appeal of Acceptance Criteria or the ICC-
ES Rules of Procedure for Appeals of Evaluation
Committee Technical Decisions.
6.0 COMMITTEE BALLOTING FOR ACCEPTANCE
CRITERIA
6.1 Acceptance criteria may be issued without a public
hearing following a 30-day public comment period and a
majority vote for approval by the Evaluation Committee
when, in the opinion of ICC-ES staff, one or more of the
following conditions have been met:
1. The subject is nonstructural, does not involve life
safety, and is addressed in nationally recognized
standards or generally accepted industry standards.
2. The subject is a revision to an existing acceptance
criteria that requires a formal action by the Evaluation
Committee, and public comments raised were resolved by
staff with commenters fully informed.
July 22, 2013
3. Other acceptance criteria and/or the code provide
precedence for the revised criteria.
6.2 Negative votes must be based upon one or more
of the following, for the ballots to be considered valid and
require resolution:
a. Lack of clarity: There is insufficient explanation of
the scope of the acceptance criteria or insufficient
description of the intended use of the product or
system; or the acceptance criteria is so unclear as
to be unacceptable. (The areas where greater
clarity is required must be specifically identified.)
b. Insufficiency: The criteria is insufficient for proper
evaluation of the product or system. (The provisions
of the criteria that are in question must be
specifically identified.)
c. The subject of the acceptance criteria is not within
the scope of the applicable codes: A report issued
by ICC-ES is intended to provide a basis for
approval under the codes. If the subject of the
acceptance criteria is not regulated by the codes,
there is no basis for issuing a report, or a criteria.
(Specifics must be provided concerning the
inapplicability of the code.)
d. The subject of the acceptance criteria needs to be
discussed in public hearings. The committee
member requests additional input from other
committee members, staff or industry.
6.3 An Evaluation Committee member, in voting on an
acceptance criteria, may only cast the following ballots:
Approved
Approved with Comments
Negative: Do Not Proceed
7.0 COMMITTEE COMMUNICATION
Direct communication between committee members,
and between committee members and an applicant or
concerned party, with regard to the processing of a
particular acceptance criteria or evaluation report, shall
take place only in a public hearing of the Evaluation
Committee. Accordingly:
7.1 Committee members receiving an electronic ballot
should respond only to the sender (ICC-ES staff).
Committee members who wish to discuss a particular
matter with other committee members, before reaching a
decision, should ballot accordingly and bring the matter to
the attention of ICC-ES staff, so the issue can be placed
on the agenda of a future committee meeting.
7.2 Committee members who are contacted by an
applicant or concerned party on a particular matter that will
be brought to the committee will refrain from private
communication and will encourage the applicant or
concerned party to forward their concerns through the
ICC-ES staff in writing, and/or make their concerns known
by addressing the committee at a public hearing, so that
their concerns can receive the attention of all committee
members.
Effective July 22, 2013
Pg 2 of 2
www.icc-es.org | (800) 423-6587 | (562) 699-0543 A Subsidiary of the International Code Council

PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR

CONCRETE AND REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED
MASONRY STRENGTHENING USING EXTERNALLY BONDED
FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE SYSTEMS

AC125

Proposed August 2013

Previously revised June 2012, February 2010, October 2009,

June 2007, June 2003, April 1997

PREFACE
Evaluation reports issued by ICC Evaluation Service, LLC (ICC-ES), are based upon performance features of
the International family of codes. (Some reports may also reference older code families such as the BOCA
National Codes, the Standard Codes, and the Uniform Codes.) Section 104.11 of the International Building Code
reads as follows:

The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the installation of any materials or to
prohibit any design or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code,
provided that any such alternative has been approved. An alternative material, design or
method of construction shall be approved where the building official finds that the proposed
design is satisfactory and complies with the intent of the provisions of this code, and that the
material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that
prescribed in this code in quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability and safety.

ICC-ES may consider alternate criteria for report approval, provided the report applicant submits data
demonstrating that the alternate criteria are at least equivalent to the criteria set forth in this document, and
otherwise demonstrate compliance with the performance features of the codes. ICC-ES retains the right to refuse
to issue or renew any evaluation report, if the applicable product, material, or method of construction is such that
either unusual care with its installation or use must be exercised for satisfactory performance, or if
malfunctioning is apt to cause injury or unreasonable damage.

NOTE: The Preface for ICC-ES acceptance criteria was revised in July 2011 to reflect changes in policy.

Acceptance criteria are developed for use solely by ICC-ES for purposes of issuing ICC-ES evaluation reports
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE
AND REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED MASONRY STRENGTHENING
USING EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER-REINFORCED
POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE SYSTEMS (AC125)
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose: The purpose of this criteria is to
establish minimum requirements for the issuance of ICC
Evaluation Service, LLC (ICC-ES), evaluation reports on
fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite systems under
the 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Building Code
(IBC) and the 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC).
Bases of recognition are IBC Section 104.11 and UBC
Section 104.2.8.
The reason for the development of this criteria is to
provide guidelines for the evaluation of alternative
concrete and masonry structural systems, where the
codes do not provide requirements for testing and
determination of structural capacities, reliability and
serviceability of these products.
1.2 Scope: This acceptance criteria applies to passive
FRP composite systems used to strengthen existing
concrete and masonry structural elements. Properties
evaluated include flexural, and shear capacities,
performance under environmental exposures,
performance under exposure to fire conditions, and
structural design procedures.
1.3 Referenced Codes and Standards:
1.3.1 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Building
Code (IBC), International Code Council.
1.3.2 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC),
International Conference of Building Officials.
1.3.3 ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Inspection and
Verification of Concrete and Reinforced and Unreinforced
Masonry Strengthening Using Fiber-reinforced Polymer
(FRP) Composite Systems (AC178).
1.3.4 ASTM C297-94, Test Method for Tensile
Strength of Flat Sandwich Constructions in Flatwise Plane,
ASTM International.
1.3.5 ASTM C581-94, Practice for Determining the
Chemical Resistance of Thermosetting Resins Used in
Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Structures Intended for Liquid
Service, ASTM International.
1.3.6 ASTM D696-91, Standard Test Method for
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion of Plastics
Between -30C and 30C with a Vitreous Silica
Dilatometer, ASTM International.
1.3.7 ASTM D1141-91, Practice for Preparation of
Substitute Ocean Water, ASTM International.
1.3.8 ASTM D2247-97, Practice for Testing Water
Resistance of Coatings in 100% Relative Humidity, ASTM
International.
1.3.9 ASTM D2344-84 (1995), Test Method for
Apparent Interlaminar Shear Strength of Parallel Fiber
Composites by Short-Beam Method, ASTM International.
1.3.10 ASTM D2565-99 (2008), Standard Practice for
Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Outdoor
Applications, ASTM International.
2
1.3.11 ASTM D2584-94, Test Method for Ignition
Loss of Cured Reinforced Resins, ASTM International.
1.3.12 ASTM D2990-95, Test Methods for Tensile,
Compressive, and Flexural Creep and Creep Rupture of
Plastics, ASTM International.
1.3.13 ASTM D3029-94, Standard Test Methods for
Impact Resistance of Flat, Rigid Plastic Specimens by
Means of a Tup (Falling Weight), ASTM International.
1.3.14 ASTM D3039-00 , Standard Test Method for
2
Tensile Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials,
ASTM International.
1.3.15 ASTM D3045-92, Standard Practice for Heat
Aging of Plastics Without Load, ASTM International.
1.3.16 ASTM D3083-89, Specification for Flexible
Poly (Vinyl Chloride) Plastic Sheeting for Pond, Canal, and
Reservoir Lining, ASTM International.
1.3.17 ASTM D3165-95, Standard Test Method for
Strength Properties of Adhesives in Shear by Tension
Loading of Single-Lap-Joint Laminated Assemblies, ASTM
International.
1.3.18 ASTM D3171-95, Standard Test Method for
Constituent Content of Composite Materials, ASTM
International.
1.3.19 ASTM D4065-95, Standard Practice for
Determining and Reporting Dynamic Mechanical
Properties of Plastics, ASTM International.
1.3.20 ASTM D4541-02, Standard Test Method for
Pull-off Strength of Coatings Using Portable Adhesion
Testers, ASTM International.
1.3.19 ASTM D7234-12, Standard Test Method for
Pull-Off Adhesion Strength of Coatings on Concrete Using
Portable Pull-Off Adhesion Testers, ASTM International.
1.3.20 ASTM D7522-09, Standard Test Method for
Pull-Off Strength for FRP Bonded to Concrete Substrate,
ASTM International.
1.3.21 ASTM E104-85 (1996), Standard Practice for
Maintaining Constant Relative Humidity by Means of
Aqueous Solutions, ASTM International.
1.3.22 ASTM E831-00, Standard Test Method for
Linear Thermal Expansion of Solid Materials by
Thermomechanical Analysis, ASTM International.
1.3.23 ASTM E1142-97, Standard Terminology
Relating to Thermophysical Properties, ASTM
International.
1.3.24 ASTM E1640-09, Standard Test Method for
Assignment of the Glass Transition Temperature by
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis. ASTM International.
1.3.25 1.3.24 ASTM G153-04 Standard Practice for
Operating Enclosed Carbon Arc Light Apparatus for
Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials, ASTM International.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE AND REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED MASONRY
STRENGTHENING USING EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE SYSTEMS (AC125)
2.1 Design Values: The FRP composite materials
load and deformation design capacities, that are based on
either working stress or ultimate strength methods.
2.2 Composite Material: A combination of high-
strength fibers and polymer matrix material. This FRP
composite may be applied either during manufacture of
the structural element or at the project location.
2.3 Cracking Load and Displacement: Load and
displacement at which the moment-curvature relationship
of the concrete or masonry section first changes slope or
at which the cracking moment is reached.
2.4 Yielding Load and Displacement: Load and
displacement at which longitudinal steel reinforcement of
the concrete or masonry section first yields.
2.5 Passive and Active Composite Systems: Active
systems are those FRP composite systems where the
FRP composite materials are post-tensioned after
installation by means such as pressure injection between
the composite material and the concrete or masonry
section. Passive systems are not post-tensioned after
installation. Active systems are outside the scope of this
criteria.
3.0 REQUIRED INFORMATION
3.1 Description: A detailed description of the
strengthening system is needed, including the following
items:
1. Description and identification of the product or
system. Identification shall include the ICC-ES evaluation
report number.
2. Restrictions or limitations on use.
3.2 Installation Instructions: Instructions
include the following items.
1. Description of how the product or system will be
used or installed in the field.
2. Procedures establishing quality control in field
installation.
3. Requirements for product handling and storage.
4. Fastener installation into structural elements.
5. For systems that depend on bond between the
system and the substrate, on-site testing of bond to the
substrate is required.
3.3 Structural Design: The structural applications of
the system shall address the following items:
1. Clarification of recognition under either Chapter 19
or Chapter 21 of the IBC or UBC.
2. Complete description of details.
3. Details on how the product or system does or does
not comply with Chapter 19 of the IBC or UBC, including
conformities and deviations. Details shall include positive
statements that the product or system does comply with
Chapter 19 or 21 of the IBC or UBC in the following areas
. . . ; and negative statements that it does not comply in
the following areas. . . .
4. Details and examples of how the product or system
is designed and analyzed, including formulas, with
procedures and properties needed for design and
analysis. The engineering analysis shall define failure
modes or force and deflection limit states.
5. Use of anchors shall be considered where the FRP
composite material bond to substrate is critical.
4.0 TESTING LABORATORIES AND REPORTS OF
TESTS
4.1 Testing laboratories shall comply with Section 2.0
of the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Test Reports
(AC85) and Section 4.2 of the ICC-ES Rules of Procedure
for Evaluation Reports.
4.2 Test reports shall comply with AC85.
4.3 Product Sampling: Products shall be sampled in
accordance with Section 3.1 of AC85.
5.0 QUALIFICATION TESTS
5.1 Qualification Test Plan: The intent of testing is to
verify the design equations and assumptions used in the
engineering analysis. All or part of the tests described in
this section, and any additional tests identified for special
features of the product or system, shall be specified. The
test plan shall be a complete document.
Overall, qualification testing must provide data on
material properties, force and deformation limit states, and
failure modes, to support a rational analysis procedure.
The specimens shall be constructed under conditions
specified by the manufacturer, including curing. Tests
must simulate the anticipated loading conditions, load
levels, deflections, and ductilities.
5.2 Columns:
5.2.1 Flexural Tests:
shall 5.2.1.1 Configuration: Column specimens shall
be configured to induce flexural limit states or failure
modes. Either cantilever or double fixity (reverse
curvature) is permitted in specimens. Extremes of
dimensional, reinforcing, and strength parameters shall be
considered.
5.2.1.2 Procedure: For seismic or wind-load
applications, the lateral load procedure shall conform to
Figure 3. For gravity (nondynamic) loading applications,
the load may be monotonically applied. Axial loads within
a specific range shall be applied. The limit states shall be
determined based on material properties and an extreme
concrete or masonry fiber compression strain of 0.003.
5.2.2 Shear Tests:
5.2.2.1 Configuration: Column specimen spans
shall be configured to induce shear limit states or failure
modes. Either double fixity (reverse curvature) or
cantilever is required. Extremes of dimensional,
reinforcing, and compressive strength parameters shall be
considered.
5.2.2.2 Procedure: For seismic or wind-load
application, the lateral load procedure shall conform to
Figure 3. For gravity (nondynamic) loading application, the
load may be monotonically applied. Axial loads within a
specific range shall be applied. The limit states shall be
determined based on material properties.
5.2.3 Pure Axial Tests
5.2.3.1 Configuration: Column specimens shall
be configured to induce axial compression limit states or
3
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE AND REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED MASONRY
STRENGTHENING USING EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE SYSTEMS (AC125)
failure modes as related to FRP performance. Extremes of
dimensional, FRP reinforcing, and strength parameters of
the concrete columns to be strengthened by FRP shall be
considered.
5.2.3.2 Procedure: The load shall be
monotonically applied. The limit states shall be determined
based on geometric, material properties and column end
support conditions.
5.3 Beam-to-Column Joints:
5.3.1 Configuration: The beam-to-column joint
shall be configured to induce joint-related limit states or
failure modes. The column portion may be constructed to
represent a section between inflection points. Extremes of
dimensional, reinforcing and compressive strength
parameters shall be considered.
5.3.2 Procedure: The lateral load procedure shall
conform to Figure 3. A vertical load shall be continuously
applied and varied within a specified range. The limit
states shall be determined based on material properties.
5.4 Beams:
5.4.1 Flexural Tests:
5.4.1.1 Configuration: Beam spans shall be
configured to induce flexural limit states or failure modes.
Either simple or rigid supports are permitted. Extremes of
dimensional, reinforcing, and compressive strength
parameters shall be considered.
5.4.1.2 Procedure: For seismic or wind-load
application, the lateral load procedure shall conform to
Figure 3. For gravity (nondynamic) loading application, the
load may be monotonically applied. The limit states shall
be determined based on material properties and an
extreme concrete or masonry fiber compression strain of
0.003.
5.4.2 Shear Tests:
5.4.2.1 Configuration: Beam spans shall be
configured to induce shear limit states or failure modes.
Either simple or rigid supports are permitted. Extremes of
dimensional, reinforcing, and compressive strength
parameters shall be considered.
5.4.2.2 Procedure: For seismic or wind loading,
the lateral load procedure shall conform to Figure 3. For
gravity loading, the load may be monotonically applied.
The limit states shall be determined based on material
properties.
5.5 Walls:
5.5.1 Wall Flexural Tests (Out-of-Plane Load):
5.5.1.1 Configuration: Wall flexural specimens
shall be configured to induce out-of-plane flexural limit
states and failure modes. Extremes of dimensional,
reinforcing, and compressive strength parameters shall be
considered.
5.5.1.2 Procedure: Specimens may be axially
loaded to consider effects of axial loads. The loading in
the out-of-plane direction may be applied at third-points,
by air-bags or by other means representing actual
conditions. The lateral load procedure consists of:
4
5.5.1.2.1 Load specimens in both directions, to
find cracking and yielding load and deformation at first
cracking. For unreinforced masonry, only cracking load
and deformation are required.
5.5.1.2.2 At least two cycles of loading in both
directions under displacement control at each deformation
level. The deformation levels shall consist of multiples of
the deformation at yielding for reinforced concrete or
masonry sections or cracking for unreinforced masonry
sections.
5.5.1.2.3 The specimens are loaded in both
directions until the strengthening system is damaged, its
capacity is reached, or desired limit states are achieved.
5.5.2 Wall Shear Tests (In-Plane Shear):
5.5.2.1 Configuration: Wall specimens shall be
configured to induce in-plane shear limit states or failure
modes. Extremes of dimensional, reinforcing and
compressive strength parameters shall be considered.
5.5.2.2 Procedure: Specimens may by axially
loaded to consider effects of axial loads. The lateral load
procedure consists of:
5.5.2.2.1 Load specimens in both directions to
find cracking and yielding load and deformation. For
unreinforced masonry, only cracking load and deformation
are required.
5.5.2.2.2 The specimens are loaded in both
directions until the strengthening system is damaged, its
capacity is reached, or desired limit states are achieved.
5.6 Wall-to-Floor Joints:
5.6.1 Configurations: The specimens shall be
configured to induce joint-related limit states or failure
modes. Extremes of dimensional, reinforcing and
compressive strength parameters shall be considered.
5.6.2 Procedure: For seismic or wind-loading
applications, the lateral load procedure shall conform to
Figure 3. For gravity load applications, the load may be
monotonically applied. The vertical load shall be applied to
floors. The limit states shall be determined based on
material properties.
5.7 Slabs (Flexural Tests):
5.7.1 Configuration: Slab spans shall be configured
to include flexural limit states or failure modes. Either
simple or rigid supports are permitted. Extremes of
dimensional, reinforcing and compressive strength shall
be considered.
5.7.2 Procedure: For seismic or wind-load
applications, the lateral load procedure shall conform to
Figure 3. For gravity (nondynamic) loading application, the
load may be monotonically applied. The limit states shall
be determined based on material properties and an
extreme concrete fiber compression strain of 0.003.
5.8 Physical and Mechanical Properties of FRP
Composite Materials: Required physical and mechanical
properties are shown in Table 2. These properties,
including creep, CTE and impact, shall be considered in
the design criteria and limitations.
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE AND REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED MASONRY
STRENGTHENING USING EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE SYSTEMS (AC125)
5.9 Exterior Exposure:
5.9.1 Procedure: Structural FRP composite
materials are tested according to ASTM G153 or ASTM
3
D2565. Six specimens, measuring /4 inch by 10 inches
(19.1 by 254 mm), are required. These specimens also
may be cut from a panel that has been coated and painted
to represent end-use conditions. Five specimens are
exposed to cycles consisting of 102 minutes light and 18
minutes light and water spray in the weatherometer
chamber. Minimum duration is 2,000 hours. The black-
body temperature is 145F (63C). Both exposed and
control specimens are then tested to ASTM D3039, for
tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation. Five
other specimens are controlled samples.
5.9.2 Conditions of Acceptance: Control and
exposed specimens are visually examined using 5
magnification. Surface changes affecting performance,
such as erosion, cracking, crazing, checking, and chalks,
are subject to further investigation. The specimens shall
retain at least 90 percent of tensile properties generated
on control specimens.
5.10 Freezing and Thawing:
5.10.1 Procedure: Fifteen samples are conditioned in
a 100 percent relative humidity chamber at 100F (38C)
for three weeks. Each cycle is 4 hours, minimum, in a 0F
(-18C) freezer followed by 12 hours, minimum, in the
humidity chamber. At least twenty cycles are required.
Control specimens and cycled specimens are then
tested according to Table 2 for tensile strength, tensile
modulus, elongation, glass transition temperature, and
interlaminar shear strength. Specimens are tested in the
primary direction.
5.10.2 Conditions of Acceptance: Control
specimens and cycled specimens are visually examined
using 5 magnification. Surface changes affecting
performance, such as erosion, cracking, crazing, checking
and chalking, are unacceptable. The cycled specimens
shall retain at least 90 percent of the tensile properties
determined for conditioned specimens.
5.11 Aging: These tests shall be considered in design
criteria and limitations.
5.11.1 Procedure: Both wet and dry specimens are
aged according to Table 3. Both exposed and control
specimens are then tested to Table 2 for tensile strength,
tensile modulus, elongation, glass transition temperature,
and interlaminar shear strength. Specimens are tested in
the primary direction. Five specimens per condition are
required.
5.11.2 Conditions of Acceptance: Control and
exposed specimens are visually examined using 5
magnification. Surface changes affecting performance,
such as erosion, cracking, crazing, checking, and
chalking, are unacceptable. The exposed specimens shall
retain the percentage of tensile properties generated on
conditioned specimens noted in Table 3.
5.12 Alkali Soil Resistance:
5.12.1 Procedure: Tests are done on five specimens
according to ASTM D3083, Section 9.5, for 1,000 hours.
Both conditioned and exposed specimens are then tested
5
for tensile strength, tensile modulus, and elongation
according to ASTM D3039.
5.12.2 Conditions of Acceptance: Conditioned and
exposed specimens are visually examined using 5
magnification. Surface changes, such as erosion,
cracking, crazing, checking, and chalking, are
unacceptable. The exposed specimens shall retain at least
90 percent of tensile properties generated on conditioned
specimens.
5.13 Fire-resistant Construction: The effect of the
FRP composite system on fire-resistance construction
shall be evaluated according to Section 703 of the IBC or
UBC.
5.14 Interior Finish: The classification of the fiber-
reinforced polymer (FRP), composite system as an interior
finish shall be determined according to Section 803 of the
IBC or Section 802 of the UBC.
5.15 Fuel Resistance: Tested specimens are tested
according to ASTM C581. The specimens are exposed to
diesel fuel reagent for 4 hours, minimum. Specimens are
tested according to Table 2 for tensile strength, tensile
modulus, elongation, glass transition temperature, and
interlaminar shear strength.
5.16 Adhesive Lap Strength: This test applies to
prefabricated systems. Specimens of the adhesive are
tested according to ASTM D3165 for exposures in Table
3, and Sections 5.10 and 5.15.
5.17 Bond Strength:
5.17.1 Procedure: The test applies to systems that
bond to the substrate. Tests are conducted for tension
according to ASTM D4541 D7234 or ASTM C297 or
ASTM D7522 where the composite material bonds two
substrate elements together, and for shear using a method
acceptable to ICC-ES staff. Specimens are exposed
according to Table 3 and Section 5.10.
5.17.2 Conditions of Acceptance: The bond
strength of FRP composite material to concrete shall not
be less than 200 psi (1378 kPa). The bond strength of the
FRP composite material to masonry shall not be less than
0.5
2.5 x (fm) . In both cases, bond testing shall exhibit
failure in the concrete or masonry substrate.
5.18 Drinking Water Exposure: The effect of the FRP
composite system when directly exposed to drinking water
shall be evaluated based in tests in accordance with NSF
61.
6.0 QUALITY CONTROL
6.1 Manufacturing: Quality assurance procedures
during manufacture of the system components shall be
described in a quality control manual complying with the
ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Quality Documentation
(AC10). The quality control program shall include periodic
inspections by an inspection agency currently accredited
by the International Accreditation Service, Inc. (IAS).
6.2 Installation: All installations shall be done by
applicators approved by the proponent of the system. The
quality assurance program shall be documented and
comply with AC178. Special inspection is required and
shall comply with Section 1704 of the IBC or Section 1701
of the UBC and other sections of the applicable code.
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE AND REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED MASONRY
STRENGTHENING USING EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE SYSTEMS (AC125)

Duties of the special inspector shall be described and Crushing of the concrete in compression
included in the evaluation report. before yielding of the reinforcing steel.
7.0 FINAL SUBMITTAL Yielding of the steel in tension followed by
7.1 The final submittal will consist of a test report or rupture of the FRP laminate.
test reports, and a design criteria report, as described in Yielding of the steel in tension followed by
this section. The final submittal shall include the data concrete crushing.
described in Section 3 of this criteria. Contents of the final
submittal are described in the following subsections: Shear/tension delamination of the concrete
cover (cover delamination).
7.2 Test Report: The independent laboratory shall
report on the qualification testing performed according to Debonding of the FRP from the concrete
the approved test plan. Besides the information requested substrate (FRP debonding).
in Section 4, the test report must include the following: The effective strain in FRP reinforcement shall be
1. Information noted in the reference standard. limited to the strain level at which debonding may occur,
fd, as defined in Eq. (1a):
2. Description of test setup.
f c
3. Rate and method of loading. fd 0.083 0.9 fu (1a)
4. Deformation and strain measurements. nE f t f
5. Modes of failure.
fc '
6. Strain measurements. fd 0.41 0.9 fu
nE f t f
7.3 Design Criteria: (SI Units)

7.3.1 Design Criteria Report: The report shall
include a complete analysis and interpretation of the
qualification test results. Design stress and strain criteria
for concrete and reinforced and unreinforced masonry
systems shall be specified based on the analyses, but
shall not be higher than specified in Section 7.3.2.
Design stresses and strains shall be based on a
characteristic value approach verified by test data. The
CTE values determined in Table 2 shall be considered in
the design procedure. The creep rupture stress limits as
shown in Table 1 shall be considered in the design
procedure.
The design criteria report shall provide guidance on
protecting the composite materials in areas where they are
prone to impact. The design shall consider secondary
stresses resulting when dead loads are relieved during
application and subsequently reapplied. Adoption of the
minimum acceptable standards for design outlined in
Section 7.3.2 does not eliminate the need for structural
testing.
Situations not covered in Section 7.3.2 shall be subject to
special considerations and testing, and design values shall
be compatible with the conservative approach adopted in
Section 7.3.2, and discussed in reference [4].
7.3.2 Minimum Acceptable Design Criteria:
7.3.2.1 Flexural Strength Enhancement of
Reinforced Concrete Members: Fiber-reinforced
polymer (FRP) composite material bonded to surfaces of
concrete may be used to enhance the design flexural
strength of sections by acting as additional tension
reinforcement. In such cases, section analysis shall be
based on normal assumptions of a) plane sections remain
plane after loading; b) the bond between the FRP and the
substrate remains perfect; c) the maximum usable
compressive strain in the concrete is 0.003; d) FRP has a
linear elastic behavior to failure.
The flexural strength of a reinforced concrete
section depends on the controlling failure mode. Failure
modes for an FRP-strengthened section include:
6
The nominal effective stress level in the FRP
reinforcement shall be calculated in accordance with
Equation (1b):
ffe =0.85.Ef.fe where fe fd (1b)
Checks must be done to ensure that the strain in the
member is at least as high as what is assumed in design.
Fibers shall not have a misalignment of more than 5
degrees.
Dependable flexural strengths shall be determined
by multiplying the nominal flexural strength, including the
effects of fiber according to Equation (1b), by the
appropriate flexural strength reduction factor according to
the IBC or UBC.
Design moment capacity for flexure shall be
calculated in accordance with Equation (1c).
Mn = (Ms+Mf) (1c)
7.3.2.1.1 Serviceability: The stress in the steel
reinforcement under service load shall be limited to 80
percent of the yield strength.
f s ,s 0.80 f y (2)
7.3.2.1.2 Creep Rupture and Fatigue Stress
Limits: The service stress levels in the FRP reinforcement
under service load shall the lesser of the analysis of creep
test in accordance with Table 2 or the maximum values in
Table 1.
7.3.2.2 Flexural Strength Enhancement of
Masonry Elements: The flexural strength of a masonry
element strengthened with FRP shall be based on the
assumptions presented in Section 7.3.2.1. However, the
effective strain in FRP reinforcement shall be limited to the
strain level at which debonding may occur as defined in
Equations (3a) and (3b):
fe 0.45 fu (3a)
f fe E f fe (3b)
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE AND REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED MASONRY
STRENGTHENING USING EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE SYSTEMS (AC125)

The force per unit width provided by FRP shall be In Equation (9), the efficiency factor, b, shall be
determined from Equation (4). calculated using Equation (10b).
(4) 7.3.2.3.1 Circular Sections: For circular cross
sections the shape factors a and b in Equations (6) and
(SI units) (9), respectively, shall be taken as 1.0.
7.3.2.3.2 Rectangular Sections: Rectangular
7.3.2.3 Axial Load Capacity Enhancement: FRP sections where the ratio of longer to shorter section side
composite material may be bonded to external surfaces of dimension is not greater than 2.0, may have axial
concrete or masonry members to enhance axial load compression capacity enhanced by the confining effect of
capacity. FRP composite material placed with fibers running
The stress-strain for FRP-confined concrete is essentially perpendicular to the members axis. For
illustrated in rectangular sections confined with transverse FRP
composite material, section corners must be rounded to a
Figure 1 and shall be determined using the 3
radius not less than /4 inch (20 mm) before placing FRP
following expressions: composite material. Axial compression capacity
enhancement by FRP composite material to rectangular
sections within aspect ratio h/b > 2.0 shall be subject to
Ec E2 2
2
special analysis confirmed by test results.
Ec c
fc
c 0 c t (5a)
4 f c The shape factors a in Equation (6) and b in
Equation (9) shall be calculated using Equation (10), and
f c E2 c t c ccu
is shown in Figure 2.
2 f c A b
2
t (5b)
a e
Ec E2 (10a)
Ac h
f cc f c
E2 (5c) Ae h
0.5

ccu b (10b)
Ac b
where,
The maximum confined concrete compressive
strength, fcc, and the maximum confinement pressure, fl, [( ) ( ) ( )( ) ]
shall be calculated using Equations (6) and (7),
respectively with the inclusion of an additional reduction
factor, f = 0.95.
f cc f c f 3.3 a fl (6) (10c)
7.3.2.4 Ductility Enhancement: FRP composite
material oriented essentially transversely to the members
axis may be used to enhance flexural ductility capacity of
2nt f E f fe circular and rectangular sections where the ratio of longer
Circular Cross-section
D (7) to shorter section dimension does not exceed 2.0. The
fl
2nt f E f fe enhancement is provided by increasing the effective
Non-circular Cross-section ultimate compression strain of the section.
b 2 h 2
7.3.2.4.1 Circular Sections: Ultimate
compression strain of circular sections of diameter D,
confined with fiber of effective thickness tf at angle = 90
In Equation (7), the effective strain level in the FRP to the longitudinal axis of the member, shall be given by
at failure, fe, shall be given by:
fe = fu (8) 2.5sj fuj uj
cu = 0.004 + (11)
The minimum confinement ratio fl /fc shall not be fcc
less than 0.08.
The maximum compressive strain in the FRP- where fcc is given by Equation (6), and sj is (4tf/D).
confined concrete, ccu, shall not exceed 0.01 to prevent 7.3.2.4.2 Rectangular Sections: Ultimate
excessive cracking and the resulting loss of concrete compression strains of rectangular sections of side lengths
integrity. The corresponding maximum value of fcc shall be B and H where H 1.5B, and with fiber of effective
calculated using the following stress-strain relationship: thickness tf at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the
member, shall be given by
fl fe
0.45

ccu c 1.5 12 b 0.01 (9)
1.25sj fuj uj
f c c
cu = 0.004 +
fcc
(12)

7
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE AND REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED MASONRY
STRENGTHENING USING EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE SYSTEMS (AC125)

where f'cc is given by Equation (6) and sj is 2tf[(B+H)/BH]. 0.85 for three-sided FRP U-wrap or two-sided
strengthening schemes;
For rectangular sections confined with transverse
FRP composite material, section corners must be rounded 0.95 for fully wrapped sections.

Vn Vc Vs f V f
3
to a radius of not less than /4 inch (20 mm) before placing
FRP composite material. Ductility enhancement according (17)
to Equation (12) shall not be relied on for slender
members where the aspect ratio M/VB 3. The shear contribution of the FRP shear
reinforcement shall given by Equation (18)
7.3.2.5 Lap-Splice Confinement: Lap-splices in
circular columns can be confined by jackets to prevent A fv f fe (sin cos)d fv
bond failure. The required volumetric ratio of FRP Vf
composite material, at an angle to the longitudinal axis sf
(18)
of the member (sj) shall not be less than
where:
1.4Ab f s
sj (13) Afv = 2ntfwf
pl s f j
ffe = feEf
where p is the perimeter of the crack surface forming
The effective design strain fe is the maximum strain
before splice failure given by the lesser of Equations (14)
that shall be achieved in the FRP system at the nominal
and (15):
strength and is governed by the failure mode of the FRP
( ) (14) system and of the strengthened reinforced concrete
member.
fe = 0.004 0.75fu for completely wrapped
( ) (15) members
In Equation (13), the circular section is reinforced with fe = vfu 0.004 for 2-sides or 3-sides (U-wrapped)
n bars each of diameter db, area Ab, uniformly distributed members
around the section on core diameter D. Required stress to
The bond-reduction coefficient shall be computed
be transferred is fs, and the splice length ls must not be
from Equations (19) through (22):
less than
k1k 2 Le
v 0.75
ls 0.025d b f y (16)
468 fu
(19)
fc
k1k 2 Le
v 0.75
0.3d b f y 11,900 fu
(SI Units)
For SI: s =
fcu 2500
Le
The jacket stress fj in Equation (13) shall not be taken (n f t f E f ) 0.58
(20)
larger than fj = 0.0015Ej 0.75 fuj.
23,300
Note: Rectangular sections cannot generally be Le
effectively confined by rectangular jackets against splice (n f t f E f ) 0.58
(SI Units)
failure, and so no provisions are included here.
2/3
7.3.2.6 Shear Strength Enhancement of f '
k1 c
Concrete Elements: Shear strength of circular and 4000
rectangular sections of concrete elements can be (21)
enhanced by FRP composite materials with fiber oriented 2/3
essentially perpendicular to the members axis. f '
k1 c
Shear strengthening using external FRP may be 27 (SI Units)
provided at locations of expected plastic hinges or stress
reversal and for enhancing post-yield flexural behavior of
members in moment frames resisting seismic loads only
by completely wrapping the section. For external FRP
1 for Completely wrapped
d L
reinforcement in the form of discrete strips, the center-to- fv
k2
e
center spacing between the strips shall not exceed the
for U - wrapped
sum of d/4 plus the width of the strip. d fv
d 2L (22)
The design shear strength of an FRP-strengthened fv e
for two sides bonded
concrete member can be determined using Eq. (17). An d fv
additional reduction factor shall be applied to the
contribution of the FRP system, as follows: The total shear strength provided by FRP and steel
reinforcement shall be limited to the following:

8
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE AND REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED MASONRY
STRENGTHENING USING EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE SYSTEMS (AC125)

b = short side dimension of compression member

Vs V f 8 f c 'bwd
(23) of non-circular cross section, in. (mm).
bw = web width or diameter of circular section, in.
Vs V f 0.66 f c 'bwd (mm).
(SI Units)
For rectangular sections with shear enhancement d = distance from extreme compression fiber to
provided by transverse FRP composite material, section centroid of tension reinforcement, in. (mm).
3
corners must be rounded to a radius not less than /4 inch CFRP = Carbon fiber reinforced polymer.
(20 mm) before placement of the FRP composite material.
D = diameter of circular columns, inches (mm).
7.3.2.6.1 Rectangular Wall Sections: Nominal
shear strength enhancement for rectangular wall sections db = reinforcement bar diameter, inches (mm).
of depth h parallel to the direction of applied shear force, dfv = effective depth of FRP shear reinforcement, in
with fiber thickness tf on both sides of the wall at an angle (mm).
to the members axis, shall be given by
Ec = modulus of elasticity of concrete, psi (MPa).
2
Vsj = 2tf fj h sin (24)
Ef = modulus of elasticity of FRP composite
where material, psi (MPa).
fj = 0.004 Ej 0.75 fuj (for completely wrapped on E2 = slope of linear portion of stress-strain model for
all four sides). FRP-confined concrete, psi (MPa).
Where wall sections have fiber bonded to one side F = increase in axial force, lb (N).
only at an angle 75 to the member axis, nominal shear
fc = compressive stress in concrete, psi (MPa)
strength enhancement shall be taken as
2 fc = specified compressive strength of concrete, psi
Vsj = 0.75tj fj h sin (25)
(MPa).
fcc = compressive strength of confined concrete, psi
where (MPa).
fj = 0.0015 Ej 0.75 fuj. ffe = effective stress in the FRP; stress level
attained at section failure, psi (MPa)
Where wall sections have fiber bonded to one side at
an angle 75 degrees to the member axis and with fm = specified compressive strength of masonry, psi
anchorage provided by bonding to the wall ends, the (MPa).
effective strain used to calculate fj shall be determined
f t = tensile strength of concrete or masonry, psi
through full-scale structural testing. (MPa).
7.3.2.6.2 Shear Strength Reduction Factor:
fl = maximum confining pressure due to FRP
Dependable shear strength enhancement shall be found
jacket, psi (MPa).
by multiplying the nominal shear strength given by
Equations (18), (24), or (25), as appropriate, by a shear ffe = effective stress in the FRP; stress level
strength reduction factor. attained at section failure, psi (MPa).
Note: These provisions do not apply to shear fjf = confining strength of FRP composite material,
strength enhancement provided by fiber that does not (MPa).
extend the full section width bonding to perpendicular fuj = ultimate tensile strength of composite material,
faces (section ends). These provisions do not apply to (MPa).
shear strength enhancement for flanged sections requiring
placement of fiber around re-entrant corners. These cases fj = hoop stress developed in jacket material,
must be subject to special study. The use of special (MPa).
anchors attaching the FRP composite material at the wall GFRP = Glass fiber reinforced polymer.
edges may be effective in transferring the design fiber
stress between wall or beam and fiber. h = long side length of a rectangular column,
inches (mm).
7.4 Quality Control: The quality control documents
described Sections 6.1 and 6.2 shall be submitted. k1 = modification factor applied to v to account for
concrete strength.
7.5 Nomenclature:
k2 = modification factor applied to v to account for
Ac = cross-sectional area of concrete in wrapping scheme.
2 2
compression member, in (mm ).
Le = active bond length of FRP laminate, in.
Ae = cross-sectional area of effectively confined
2 2 ls = reinforcement bar splice length, inches (mm).
concrete section, in (mm ).
2 2 p = perimeter of cracked surface, inches (mm).
Ag = gross area of concrete section, in (mm ).
Afv = area of FRP shear reinforcement with spacing pfm = force per unit width that the FRP system
2 2
s, in (mm ). transfers to the masonry substrate, lb/in (N/m)
AFRP = Aramid fiber reinforced polymer psj = volumetric ratio of retrofit jacket.

9
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE AND REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED MASONRY
STRENGTHENING USING EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE SYSTEMS (AC125)

Mu = bond strength between FRP composite = efficiency factor equal to 0.55 for FRP strain to
material and concrete or masonry, psi (MPa). account for the difference between observed
n = number of plies of FRP reinforcement. rupture strain in confinement and rupture strain
determined from tensile tests.
r = radius of edges of a non-circular cross section
confined with FRP, in. (mm). = displacement ductility level, defined relative to
yield or cracking displacement.
sf = center-to-center spacing of FRP shear
reinforcement, in (mm). g = ratio of area of longitudinal steel reinforcement
to cross-sectional area of a compression
tf = effective FRP composite material thickness. member.
Vf = shear strength enhancement provided by f = FRP strength reduction factor.
composite material, lb (N).
= 0.85 for flexure (calibrated based on design
Vc = nominal shear strength provided by concrete material properties).
with steel flexural reinforcement, lb (N).
= 0.85 for shear (based on reliability analysis) for
Vs = nominal shear strength provided by steel three-sided FRP U-wrap or two-sided
stirrups, lb (N). strengthening schemes.
wf = width of FRP reinforcing plies, in. (mm). = 0.95 for shear fully wrapped sections.
= angle of fiber inclination to member axis,
degrees.
Referenced Documents
c = concrete compression strain. 1)
ACI Committee 440.2R-08, 2008, Guide for the
cc = strain at peak stress for confined concrete. Design and Construction of Externally Bonded FRP
cu = ultimate compression strain of unconfined Systems for Strengthening Concrete Structures,
concrete. American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI.
2)
ccu = ultimate compression strain of confined Concrete Society, Design Guidance for Strengthening
concrete. Concrete Structures Using Fibre Composite Materials,
Technical Report No. 55 (TR55), second edition, Surrey,
f = strain composite material at designated 2004.
strength. 3)
Pessiki, S.; Harries, K. A.; Kestner, J.; Sause, R.; and
fe = effective strain level in FRP reinforcement Ricles, J. M., The Axial Behavior of Concrete Confined
attained at failure, in/in (mm/mm). with Fiber Reinforced Composite Jackets, Journal of
fd = debonding strain of externally bonded FRP Composites in Construction, ASCE, V. 5, No. 4, 2001,
reinforcement. pp. 237-245.
4)
fu = ultimate strain of FRP composite material. Priestley, M.J. Nigel, Frieder Seible and Michele Calvi,
Seismic Design and Retrofit of Bridges (Chapters 1
t = transition strain in stress-strain curve of FRP- through 8). John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York,
confined concrete, in/in (mm/mm) September 1995, 672 pp.
= strength reduction factor. 5)
Lam, L., and Teng, J., Design-Oriented Stress-Strain
a = efficiency factor for FRP reinforcement in Model for FRP-Confined Concrete, Construction and
determination of fcc (based on geometry of Building Materials, V. 17, 2003a, pp. 471-489.
6)
cross section). Lam, L., and Teng, J., Design-Oriented Stress-Strain
b = efficiency factor for FRP reinforcement in Model for FRP-Confined Concrete in Rectangular
determination of ccu (based on geometry of Columns, Journal of Reinforced Plastics and
Composites, V. 22, No. 13, 2003b, pp. 1149-1186.
cross section).
7)
NSF 61-2003e, Drinking Water ComponentsHealth
v = bond-dependent coefficient for shear.
Effects, NSF International.

TABLE 1CREEP RUPTURE AND FATIGUE STRESS LIMITS IN FRP REINFORCEMENT

PARAMETER Fiber Type

Stress Type GFRP AFRP CFRP
Creep Rupture 0.20fuj 0.30fuj 0.55fuj

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PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE AND REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED MASONRY
STRENGTHENING USING EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE SYSTEMS (AC125)

TABLE 2PHYSICAL PROPERTIES6

PROPERTY TEST METHOD NO. OF SPECIMENS1

Tensile strength ASTM D3039
Elongation ASTM D3039 202
Tensile modulus ASTM D3039
Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) ASTM D696 or ASTM E831 52
Creep8 ASTM D29903 52
4 4
Void content ASTM D2584 or D3171 5
9 7
Glass transition (Tg) temperature ASTM D4065 E1640 or ASTM E831 205
Composite interlaminar shear strength ASTM D2344 20
1
Specimen sets shall exhibit a coefficient of variation (COV) of 6 percent or less. Outliers are subject to further investigation
according to ASTM E178. If the COV exceeds 6 percent, the number of specimens shall be doubled.
2
Values shall be determined in the primary and cross (90) directions.
3
Test duration is 3,000 hours, minimum.
4
Maximum void content by volume is 6 percent.
5
Minimum 140F (60C) Tg is required for control and exposed specimens.
6
For terminology, ASTM E1142 is a reference.
7
When using ASTM E831, an Expansion versus Temperature curve as shown in Figure 1 of ASTM E831 shall be developed; two
tangents to the curve shall be plotted to coincide with the straightline portions of the curve above and below the inflection point. The
point of intersection of these tangents shall be reported as Tg for the material.
8
Creep stresses for design shall be the lesser of the analysis of test or the maximum values in Table 1.
9
Tg under ASTM E1640 should be established using the Loss Modulus procedure.

TABLE 3ENVIRONMENTAL DURABILITY TEST MATRIX

PERCENT
RETENTION
ENVIRONMENTAL RELEVANT TEST CONDITIONS TEST DURATION Hours
DURABILITY TEST SPECIFICATIONS
1,000 3,000
ASTM D2247 1,000 and 3,000 and 10,000
Water resistance 100 percent, 100 2F
ASTM E104 hours
ASTM D1141 1,000 and 3,000 and 10,000
Saltwater resistance Immersion at 73 2F
ASTM C581 hours 90 85
Immersion in Ca (CO3)
Alkali resistance ASTM C581 1,000 and 3,000 hours
at pH = 9.5 & 73 3F
Dry heat resistance ASTM D3045 140 5F 1,000 and 3,000 hours

For SI: C= (tF 32)/1.8.

FIGURE 1STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM FOR FRP-CONFINED CONCRETE

11
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE AND REINFORCED AND UNREINFORCED MASONRY
STRENGTHENING USING EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) COMPOSITE SYSTEMS (AC125)

FIGURE 2EQUIVALENT CIRCULAR CROSSSECTION

FIGURE 3TEST SEQUENCE OF IMPOSED DISPLACEMENT

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