Experimental investigation on concrete filled glass fibre reinforced polymer tubular beams under flexural loading

Abstract

Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) has expanded its importance throughout the world as it provides an immense potential solution to the crisis related with the infrastructure. Concrete filled fibre reinforced polymer tubular members are used as an innovative alternative material for concrete filled steel tubular members. This paper focuses on an experimental study on the behaviour of concrete filled glass fibre reinforced polymer tubular beams under flexural loading. Two different strength of concrete (Type 1 & Type 2) were used to infill the FRP tubular beams. Two types of configurations of FRP (S-type and B-type) were used in the investigation. The tubular beams were performed for four-point loading system. The effect such as strength of concrete infill on FRP tubular beams and configurations of FRP were investigated. The experimental results indicated that the FRP tubular beams filled with Type 2 concrete enhanced the ultimate load than the FRP tubular beams filled with Type 1 concrete. The concrete filled in unidirectional cloth FRP tubular beams exhibit a better performance than the woven roving FRP tubular beams. FRP tubes filled with higher grade of concrete increased the maximum deflection by 22.09%. The concrete filled in S-type of FRP tubular beams failed by premature buckling, rupture of fibres and crushing in the webs wherein concrete filled in B-type of FRP tubular beams failed by brittle mode of failure.