Performance Evaluation of One-Way Concrete Slabs Reinforced with New Developed GFRP Bars

Ahmed H. Ali^1*, Mohammad Z. Afifi¹, Bahira Abdulsalam², Hesham Haggag¹, Awad El Hashimy¹, Tarek El-Sayed¹, Hamdy M. Mohamed¹

¹Department of Civil Engineering, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
²Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, London, Canada.

DOI: 10.4236/msa.2015.65046                

Abstract

The incorporation of fiber-reinforced-polymer (FRP) bars in construction as a replacement to steel bars provides a superior material which is capable to overcome corrosion problems. However, serviceability requirements are important issues to be considered in the design of concrete elements reinforced with glass-FRP (GFRP) bars which are known to have larger deflections and wider crack widths as well as weaker bond compared with steel reinforced concrete. As a solution to this problem, square GFRP bars are proposed. This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation that was performed, in which newly developed square and circular GFRP bars were fabricated in the lab. Also, the GFRP bars were tested and used to reinforce concrete slabs. A total of nine full-scale GFRP-reinforced concrete (RC) one-way slabs were constructed, tested and analyzed, considering the most influencing parameters such as the cross sectional shape of GFRP bars, reinforcement ratio, the concrete characteristics strength, and adding polypropylene fibers to the concrete mixture. The test results were showed that, the tested slabs with GFRP square bars improved the deflection and cracking behavior as well as the ultimate load.

Keywords

Square and Circular Bars, GFRP Reinforcement Bars, Polypropylene Fibers, Concrete Slabs

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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