• Brown, Matthew
  University of Maine
  

The subject of this study concerns the reinforcement of glued laminated wood beams using fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP). Two types of pultruded FRP (I3 and  Kl) were manufactured with slightly different properties. The FRP was bonded with eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis) using a room temperature cured phenol-resorcinol adhesive. The bonding potential was evaluated in shear by compression loading (ASTM D-905). A number of methods were used to characterize the FRP material, with respect to; surface roughness, critical surface tension, void content and aging of the primed surface. In an attempt to understand the bond performance it was essential to characterize the surfaces with respect to their adhesive properties.