Structural Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Columns Fully and Partially Reinforced with GFRP Bars Tested Under Concentric or Eccentric Compressive Loads

Abstract

Concrete columns reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars have been greatly interesting recently. The distinct properties of GFRP bars, such as high tensile strength and low modulus of elasticity compared to steel bars, as well as the linear stress-strain behavior, make the study of GFRP-reinforced concrete (FRP-RC) columns important. This paper investigates the structural behavior of column specimens reinforced by fully and partially GFRP bars subjected to concentric and eccentrically applied Compressive loads. 12 columns were reinforced by (36%, 64%, and 100%) of the GFRP bars ratio, and the control specimen was reinforced by conventional steel rebars; all specimens were tested under different eccentric ratios (e/h) 0, 0.66, and 1. The failure mode, the relation between the axial load and the average axial displacement, and a comparison between the experimental results and the theoretical interaction diagram for columns were presented and discussed. The results show that most of the failure in specimens occurs as a compressive failure, and it fails in the weakest region by crushing concrete, as well as kinking in GFRP bars. Using GFRP bars significantly increases the axial displacement values compared to the steel rebars in longitudinal reinforcement and decreases the failure load for specimens with an increase in the ratio of GFRP bars. The average axial displacement value for columns specimens tested under eccentric load at e/h equal to 0.66 and 1 decreases by 75% and 94.4% compared with the control specimen.