Tunelling / Railways
Corrosion inside of tunnel environments is caused not only by damp and moist environments but also by carbonation-induced corrosion by diesel exhaust particulates.
A tunnel is a semi-enclosed stuffy environment that contains higher particulate pollution than in open zones. Material degradation is caused by corrosive chemicals in the atmosphere, like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and hydrogen sulphide, heavy mineral dust deposits, and soot.
GFRP rebar has many advantages over steel reinforcing in the certain application that demand durability, electromagnetic neutrality preventing stray current in high and low voltage systems, reinforcing around signal detector loops so that there is no interference with this sensitive area for the safe operation of traffic signals and last but not least, one very important area is the soft eyes where the TBMs both enter and exit the tunnel strata.
Challenges
- The significant outlay for governments.
- Severe atmospheric condition, i.e., sulphur dioxide fumes from diesel-powered engines.
- Stray current corrosion in electrified railway systems.
- High moisture and seepage.
- Costley maintenance.
Solutions – Composite bars in tunnels and railways.
- Ballast less track reinforced with FRP bars.
- Continuously FRP reinforced concrete slabs
- Pe-cast concrete tunnel lining reinforced with FRP
- GFRP reinforced concrete culverts
- Signal loop reinforcing, to eliminate interference with signal operation.
- GFRP Softeyes
