## 8 On-Site FRP Installation  
Fyfe was also responsible for the manufacture and installation of the FRP laminates and FRP anchors used for the on-site retrofit applications in this project. The proper installation of FRP systems is critical to obtain the desired structural performance of the system. Figures 18-26 show photographs of the FPR materials and different installation stages in the building. For this project (and most others), the first step consisted of obtaining access to the beams, which included the temporary relocation (and replacement) of mechanical, plumbing, and electrical obstacles along with drop ceilings. Next, the beam section was scanned with ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to locate the existing reinforcing bars prior to drilling. Holes for the FRP anchors were drilled using a hammer drill with a carbide-tipped drill bit that was 0.25 in larger in diameter than the fiber anchor. To note, carbide-tipped drill bits allow for corrections in the hole trajectory if rebar is intersected. As opposed to standard embedded anchors installed from below the slab, drilling for the splice anchors through the slab was done from the top down to allow the holes to be right at the re-entrant corner between the beam and the bottom of the slab. Hereafter, the surfaces where the fiber laminates were to be installed were roughened to a minimum CSP-2 profile per LCRI Technical Guidelines No. 310.2R-2013 using a portable girnder equipped with a diamond cup wheel. Because of project specifications, the splice fiber anchors were recessed along the top of the beam to avoid any tripping hazards (Figure 19). For this purpose, an angle grinder was used to create a groove between the two holes. Beam web corners and anchor holes were rounded to a 0.5-in minimum radius to reduce stress concentrations. Prior to the FRP application, the anchor holes and surfaces receiving FRP were vacuumed to remove concrete dust and primed with a coat of epoxy. Anchor holes were filled with epoxy up to 75% using a syringe (Figure 20). FRP-composite laminates and anchors were manufactured following a standard wet layup process. The two-part epoxy was mixed and combined with the reinforcing fabric and fiber anchors in a controlled area. Saturation of the FRP fabric was done using a special saturator machine (Figure 21 (left), whereas the anchors were saturated manually with the help of a channel-shaped bath (Figure 21 (right)). The saturated fabric and anchors were then transported to the beams and installed as per the approved shop drawings (Figures 22-25). A final protective coat of epoxy was then applied at fabric edges, termination points, and over-the-anchor holes. The cure time of the saturated FRP material is temperature-dependent, but in this interior application, at an average temperature of about 21 \({}^{\circ}\)C (70 \({}^{\circ}\)F), the installed system was hard to the touch and ready to accept any aesthetic finishes after about 24 h and could have taken potential design loads after approximately 72 h. This application was hidden behind the drop ceilings, and no finishes were required. Field quality control of the FRP materials included testing of samples of cured FRP fabric following ASTM D3039 [41] to verify the tensile properties of the material, weighing of the dry anchors to confirm their size, and weighing of the saturated anchors to ensure they had the required amount of epoxy (one-to-one ratioby weight \(\pm\)10%). A minimum of two 30.5 cm \(\times\) 30.5 cm (12 in \(\times\) 12 in) FRP laminate samples were made for each day of production, as recommended by Fyfe. The samples had to achieve a minimum of 85% cure prior to testing (note that 85% cure corresponds to almost-full properties), which is achieved after approximately seven days at average temperature of 21 \({}^{\circ}\)C (70 \({}^{\circ}\)F). To note, there is no ASTM for field testing of FRP anchors to date. The installed FRP laminates and anchors were checked visually to ensure that all details matched the shop drawings.