Glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) reinforcement bars has a lower stiffness than steel
reinforcement, which should be accounted for the ultimate and serviceability conditions, including
the impact on member deflection and crack widths. This paper presents an experimental study of the
flexural behavior of concrete beams reinforced with locally produced glass fiber reinforced polymers
(GFRP) bars. The bars are locally produced by double parts die mold using local resources raw
materials. A total of seven beams measuring 120 mm wide x 300 mm deep x 2800 mm long were
caste and tested up to failure under four-point bending. The main parameters were reinforcement
material type (GFRP and steel), concrete compressive strength and reinforcement ratio (μb, 1.7μb and
2.7μb). The mid-span deflection, crack width and GFRP reinforcement strains of the tested beams
were recorded and compared. The test results revealed that the crack widths and mid-span deflection
were significantly decreased by increasing the reinforcement ratio. The ultimate load increased by
47% and 97% as the reinforcement ration increased from μb to 2.7μb. Specimens reinforced by 2.7μb
demonstrated an amount of ductility provided by the concrete. The recorded strain of GFRP
reinforcement reached to 90% of the ultimate strains. |
