Deflection behaviour of concrete beams reinforced with different types of GFRP bars

Abstract

GFRP bars are non noncorrosive reinforcing materials having relatively lower tensile modulus compared to steel. The design of flexural concrete members reinforced with GFRP bars are usually governed by serviceability limits, deflection, and crack width. This paper describes an experimental study conducted to investigate the deflection behavior of concrete beams reinforced with GFRP bars. The bars came from three different manufacturers. A total of 8 beams measuring 4250 mm long ×200 mm wide×400 mm deep were built and tested up to failure under four-point bending. The study?s main parameters were reinforcement type (GFRP and steel) and amount (three reinforcement ratios). The midspan deflection of all the beams tested were recorded and compared. The test results were used to assess the equations in different FRP codes and guidelines. © Tsinghua University Press, Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.