LIMITATIONS TO THE USE OF WATERJETS IN CONCRETE SUBSTRATE PREPARATION

Repair and strengthening of concrete structures with fiber reinforced materials (FRP) involves the use of externally bonded sheets, prefabricated laminates, and bars mounted near the surface. Studies have shown that the load-carrying ability of FRP materials is integrally related to the bonding characteristic of the epoxy to the substrate. This is very significant to the construction industry for identifying optimal bond characteristics since current specification requirements for the use of FRP repair and strengthening techniques have no methodology to identify these optimal conditions. Over the years custom applications have become a standard option and some standards have to be established for specific applications. This paper discusses a roughness index of concrete surfaces produced with waterjets under different conditions