Abstract
The incorporation of fiber-reinforced-polymer (FRP) bars in construction as a replacement to steel bars provides a superior material which is capable to overcome corrosion problems. However, serviceability requirements are important issues to be considered in the design of concrete elements reinforced with glass-FRP (GFRP) bars which are known to have larger deflections and wider crack widths as well as weaker bond compared with steel reinforced concrete. As a solution to this problem, square GFRP bars are proposed. This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation that was performed, in which newly developed square and circular GFRP bars were fabricated in the lab. Also, the GFRP bars were tested and used to reinforce concrete slabs. A total of nine full-scale GFRP-reinforced concrete (RC) one-way slabs were constructed, tested and analyzed, considering the most influencing parameters such as the cross sectional shape of GFRP bars, reinforcement ratio, the concrete characteristics strength, and adding polypropylene fibers to the concrete mixture. The test results were showed that, the tested slabs with GFRP square bars improved the deflection and cracking behavior as well as the ultimate load.
Highlights
Durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures is one of the most important points to be considered
The test results are presented in terms of the physical and mechanical properties of GFRP bars of square and circular cross sections
The test results indicated that the glass-fiber content by weight for square-GFRP bars and circular-GFRP bars with the same number of yarns were 72.19% and 71.57%, respectively which is accepted according to [14] and [15]
Summary
Durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures is one of the most important points to be considered. The progressive development in FRP mechanical and physical properties has promoted the use of FRP as internal reinforcement in RC structural members. Because of the difference in mechanical and physical properties of FRP bars compared with steel bars, especially regarding the surface deformation and the modulus of elasticity, the bond behavior of FRP reinforced concrete specimens is quite different than that of steel reinforced specimens [5]-[7]. The behavior of RC slab reinforced with newly develop GFRP square cross-section bar conducted to provide additional understanding regarding the serviceability and flexural behavior as a result of change of bond properties using GFRP square bars
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