Glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) reinforcement bars has a lower stiffness than steel
, 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. |
