Flexural behaviors of fiber-reinforced polymer fabric reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete panels

Abstract

The use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) fabrics as reinforcement in concrete offers several advantages, such as high tensile strength, corrosion resistance, and light weight. This paper presents experimental and mechanical studies on the flexural behaviors of FRP fabric reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) panels. Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) fabrics were investigated. Mechanical properties of GFRP and CFRP fabrics, high-strength mortar, and UHPC containing micro steel fibers were experimentally evaluated. The interfacial properties between the FRP fabric and cementitious matrix were characterized using push-pull tests. The flexural performance of panels with different reinforcement configurations was experimentally evaluated. The use of GFRP or CFRP fabric enhanced the flexural properties of UHPC panels, but did not lead to any increase in the flexural strength for the panels made with high-strength mortar. A mechanical analysis is performed to understand and predict the flexural behavior of the FRP fabric reinforced UHPC panels. The proposed fabric reinforced UHPC panel is demonstrated to be promising for the development of lightweight, high-performance permanent formwork system. Such formwork can be potentially used in accelerated construction of critical infrastructure with enhanced crack resistance and extended service life.