Rebar reimagined in city hall project

Corrosion-resistant Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars have been incorporated in the Toowoomba City Hall refurbishment project as part of USQ’s research into their use. The non-conductive reinforcement was used for the building’s annex extension instead of traditional reinforcement materials due to the proximity to an Ergon substation. Dr Allan Manalo, who heads USQ’s research into FRP bars as internal reinforcement to concrete structures through its Centre for Future Materials (CFM), said the application of FRP bars for the project was a major milestone in the university’s research into civil composite materials. “It proves that the research we are conducting here at USQ and the research training we are providing students are translating to actual applications and impacting the community,” Dr Manalo said. More than 700m of FRP bars were used as internal reinforcement to the foundation piers and footing slabs Three former USQ Civil Engineering students are involved in the project, including GHD structural designer Matthew Robertson, Toowoomba Regional Council engineer Kurt Lembo and Northbuild Construction contract administrator Nick Leggat. Dr Manalo said the three graduates learned the design and use of fibre composite materials within construction during their studies at USQ. “I am highly impressed with these young engineers, in particular Matthew who undertook his honours research project under my supervision on FRP reinforced concrete columns,” he said. “This gave him a better understanding on the design and behavioural aspects of concrete structures reinforced with FRP bars.” Properties such as corrosion resistance, light weight and high strength are helping FRP gain worldwide interest and a growing acceptance in the construction industry. USQ graduates (from left) Nick Leggat, Kurt Lembo and Matthew Robertson at the assembly of FRP reinforcement to the concrete foundation for the new annex of the Toowoomba City Hall. They are joined by current USQ students Mojdeh Khotbehsara, Ali Mohammed, Angel Baker and academic Dr Ginghis Maranan. “In Australia, the environments are severe to use steel as reinforcement to concrete structures from the viewpoint of corrosion damage,” Dr Manalo said. “Corrosion damage costs Australia more than $13 billion per year. Thus, FRP reinforced concrete structures for use in infrastructure applications are an emerging technology that can play a significant role in the Australian construction and civil infrastructure.” CFM director Professor Peter Schubel said the success of the city hall project would boost the centre’s efforts to expedite the uptake of FRP bars as reinforcement to concrete structures with existing industries, such as marine, building and construction. “USQ is one of the nominated organisations to lead the development of Standards for this alternative reinforcing material, which is strong, economical, safe and durable,” Professor Schubel said. “The work we have undertaken provides an excellent framework for reference in the development of design criteria and specifications for FRP bars so that the construction industry can benefit more widely from this technology.”

Rebar reimagined in city hall project

Industry Queensland

Related News

QAL upgrade attracts $94m federal grant

Bridge damage under scrutiny after excavator mishap

Quick fire – industry news briefs

Get access to breaking mining news, now.