Experimental Study on FRP Rebars Reinforced Concrete under Axially Compressive Loads

Experimental Study on FRP Rebars Reinforced Concrete:

Abstract

This paper presents the experimental study results of the FRP rebars reinforced concrete under axially compressive loads. The objectives are to study the mechanical behaviors, modes of failure and strengths of the FRP rebars reinforced concrete and to compare the obtained results with those of the concrete and the steel reinforced concrete. The specimens have circular cross section with 150 mm diameter and 300 mm height. The total of 84 specimens were studied. The variables are ultimate compressive strength of concrete of 300ksc 350ksc 400ksc and 500ksc and the percentage of the cross sectional area of the reinforcements (steel rebars and FRP rebars) to the cross sectional area of the concrete of 0% 2.56% 3.84% and 5.12%. The stirrups are equal for all specimens. From the experiments, it was found that the FRP rebars reinforced concrete has linear behavior up to 60-80% of their maximum strength, similar to those of the steel reinforced concrete and higher than the concrete. Then, the behavior is nonlinear to their maximum strength with the continuous decreasing in its strength. The modes of failure of the FRP rebars reinforced concrete are more brittle than the steel reinforced concrete and less brittle than the concrete. Finally, the FRP rebars can strengthening the concrete by increasing the compressive strength in the range of 18 to 45%, compared to those of the steel rebars strength in the range of 22 to 70%.