IIT Hyderabad researchers develop solution for strengthening bridges, buildings

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad researchers have developed a hybrid fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) strengthening technique for improving the strength and ductility of civil infrastructure such as bridges. The FRP strengthening method is said to be a more efficient method than concrete and steel jacketing. It gives high strength and stiffness to weight ratios compared to the other techniques, claims IIT Hyderabad.

According to a statement from IIT Hyderabad, the method can increase the service life of any infrastructure by around 20 years with marginal cost. It further says that the strength and ductility of structural elements can be improved by using this method without increasing their weight. The research behind the method focuses on understanding the size, shape, and slenderness effect on the hybrid fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) strengthening. The study by IIT Hyderabad also led to the development of Indian standards (IS) on guidelines for FRP strengthening, which is presently being made. The method was developed at professor S Suriya Prakash’s CASTCON Lab at IIT Hyderabad.

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"The preservation and extension of service life of the existing civil infrastructure are essential for fueling our country’s economic growth. At the same time, this innovation developed by Prof Suriya and his team leads to optimum utilization of the strengthening materials. It is cost-effective for increasing the longevity of civil infrastructure. This has once again demonstrated IITH’s zeal to contribute to serving society at large, through Inventing and Innovating in Technology for Humanity (IITH)," B Murty, director of IIT Hyderabad.

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