Glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) reinforcemen
t bars has a lower stiffness than steel
reinforcement, which should be accounted for the ul
timate and serviceability conditions, including
the impact on member deflection and crack widths. T
his 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 doubl
e 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 ben
ding. The main parameters were reinforcement
material type (GFRP and steel), concrete compressiv
e strength and reinforcement ratio (
μ
b
, 1.7
μ
b
and
2.7
μ
b
). The mid-span deflection, crack width and GFRP re
inforcement strains of the tested beams
were recorded and compared. The test results reveal
ed that the crack widths and mid-span deflection
were significantly decreased by increasing the rein
forcement ratio. The ultimate load increased by
47% and 97% as the reinforcement ration increased f
rom
μ
b
to 2.7
μ
b
. Specimens reinforced by 2.7
μ
b
demonstrated an amount of ductility provided by the
concrete. The recorded strain of GFRP
reinforcement reached to 90% of the ultimate strain
s. |
