Ductility improvement of GFRP-RC beams using precast confined concrete block in compression zone

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) have received considerable research attention because of their high strength, corrosion resistance, and low weight. However, owing to the lack of ductility in this material and the quasi-brittle behavior of concrete, FRP-reinforced concrete (FRP-RC) beams, even with flexural failure, do not fail in a ductile manner. Because the limited deformation capacity of FRP-RC beams depends on the ductility of their compression zones, the present study proposes using a precast confined concrete block (PCCB) in the compression zone to improve the ductility of the beams. A control beam and four beams with different PCCBs were cast and tested under four-point bending conditions. The control beam failed due to shear, and the PCCBs exhibited different confinements and perforations. The goal was to find an appropriate PCCB for use in the compression zone of the beams, which not only improved the ductility but also changed the failure mode of the beams from shear to flexural. Among the employed blocks, a ductile PCCB with low equivalent compressive strength increased the ductility ratio of the beam to twice that of the control beam. The beam failed in pure flexure with considerable deformation capacity and without significant stiffness reduction.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

ductility / four-point bending test / glass fiber-reinforced polymer / precast confined concrete block

References

[1] Salama A S D, Hawileh R A, Abdalla J A. Performance of externally strengthened RC beams with side-bonded CFRP sheets. Composite Structures, 2019, 212: 281–290

[2] Naser M Z, Hawileh R A, Abdalla J A. Fiber-reinforced polymer composites in strengthening reinforced concrete structures: A critical review. Engineering Structures, 2019, 198: 109542

[3] Abuodeh R O, Abdalla J A, Hawileh R A. Flexural strengthening of RC beams using aluminum alloy plates with mechanically-fastened anchorage systems: An experimental investigation. Engineering Structures, 2021, 234: 111969

[4] Hawileh R A, Mhanna H H, Al Rashed A, Abdalla J A, Naser M Z. Flexural behavior of RC beams externally bonded with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates. Engineering Structures, 2022, 256: 114036

[5] Ehsani M R, Saadatmanesh H, Tao S. Design recommendations for bond of GFRP rebars to concrete. Journal of Structural Engineering, 1996, 122(3): 247–254

[6] Tastani S P, Pantazopoulou S J. Bond of GFRP bars in concrete: Experimental study and analytical interpretation. Journal of Composites for Construction, 2006, 10(5): 381–391

[7] Antonietta Aiello M, Leone M, Pecce M. Bond performances of FRP rebars-reinforced concrete. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 2007, 19(3): 205–213

[8] Al-Sunna R, Pilakoutas K, Hajirasouliha I, Guadagnini M. Deflection behaviour of FRP reinforced concrete beams and slabs: An experimental investigation. Composites. Part B, Engineering, 2012, 43(5): 2125–2134

[9] Zhang L, Sun Y, Xiong W. Experimental study on the flexural deflections of concrete beam reinforced with Basalt FRP bars. Materials and Structures, 2015, 48(10): 3279–3293

[10] Carter J, Genikomsou A S. Investigation on modeling parameters of concrete beams reinforced with basalt FRP bars. Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2019, 13(6): 1520–1530

[11] Benmokrane B, Zhang B, Laoubi K, Tighiouart B, Lord I. Mechanical and bond properties of new generation of carbon fibre reinforced polymer reinforcing bars for concrete structures. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 2002, 29(2): 338–343

[12] Habeeb M, Ashour A F. Flexural behavior of continuous GFRP reinforced concrete beams. Journal of Composites for Construction, 2008, 12(2): 115–124

[13] AlkhrdajiTFyfeE RKorffJSchupackMBakisC EGentryT RShieldC K. Guide for the design and construction of structural concrete reinforced with FRP bars. In: Proceedings of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) committe 440. Detroit: American Concrete Institute (ACI), 2006

[14] Barris C, Torres L, Turon A, Baena M, Catalan A. An experimental study of the flexural behaviour of GFRP RC beams and comparison with prediction models. Composite Structures, 2009, 91(3): 286–295

[15] Kara I F, Ashour A F, Dundar C. Deflection of concrete structures reinforced with FRP bars. Composites. Part B, Engineering, 2013, 44(1): 375–384

[16] Adam M A, Said M, Mahmoud A A, Shanour A S. Analytical and experimental flexural behavior of concrete beams reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymers bars. Construction & Building Materials, 2015, 84: 354–366

[17] Mousa S, Mohamed H M, Benmokrane B, Nanni A. Flexural behavior of long-span square reinforced concrete members with uniformly distributed fiber-reinforced polymer bars. ACI Structural Journal, 2020, 117(4): 209–222

[18] Deitz D, Harik I, Gesund H. Physical properties of glass fiber reinforced polymer rebars in compression. Journal of Composites for Construction, 2003, 7(4): 363–366

[19] ACICommittee. Guide for the Design and Construction of Structural Concrete Reinforced with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Bars (ACI 440.1R-15). Farmington Hills, MI: American Concrete Institute, 2015

[20] Zhu P, Xu J, Qu W. Fatigue shear performance of concrete beams reinforced with hybrid (glass-fiber-reinforced polymer + steel) rebars and stirrups. Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2021, 15(3): 576–594

[21] Wu C, He X, He L, Zhang J, Wang J. Combination form analysis and experimental study of mechanical properties on steel sheet glass fiber reinforced polymer composite bar. Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2021, 15(4): 834–850

[22] Fakharifar M, Dalvand A, Sharbatdar M K, Chen G, Sneed L. Innovative hybrid reinforcement constituting conventional longitudinal steel and FRP stirrups for improved seismic strength and ductility of RC structures. Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2016, 10(1): 44–62

[23] Sun Z, Tang Y, Luo Y, Wu G, He X. Mechanical properties of steel-FRP composite bars under tensile and compressive loading. International Journal of Polymer Science, 2017, 2017: 1–11

[24] Sun Z, Fu L, Feng D C, Vatuloka A R, Wei Y, Wu G. Experimental study on the flexural behavior of concrete beams reinforced with bundled hybrid steel/FRP bars. Engineering Structures, 2019, 197: 109443

[25] Xingyu G, Yiqing D, Jiwang J. Flexural behavior investigation of steel-GFRP hybrid-reinforced concrete beams based on experimental and numerical methods. Engineering Structures, 2020, 206: 110117

[26] Wang H, Belarbi A. Ductility characteristics of fiber-reinforced-concrete beams reinforced with FRP rebars. Construction & Building Materials, 2011, 25(5): 2391–2401

[27] Qiao Z, Pan Z, Xue W, Meng S. Experimental study on flexural behavior of ECC/RC composite beams with U-shaped ECC permanent formwork. Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2019, 13(5): 1271–1287

[28] Cai J, Pan J, Zhou X. Flexural behavior of basalt FRP reinforced ECC and concrete beams. Construction & Building Materials, 2017, 142: 423–430

[29] Aydın E, Boru E, Aydın F. Effects of FRP bar type and fiber reinforced concrete on the flexural behavior of hybrid beams. Construction & Building Materials, 2021, 279: 122407

[30] Guo B, Lin X, Wu Y, Zhang L. Evaluation of flexural resistance of compression yielded concrete beams reinforced with fibre reinforced polymers. Engineering Structures, 2022, 250: 113416

[31] Wu Y F. New avenue of achieving ductility for reinforced concrete members. Journal of Structural Engineering, 2006, 132(9): 1502–1506

[32] ShenXLiXShiWChenY. Numerical study on flexural behaviour of FRP reinforced beams with compression yielding blocks. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2022, 17(12): e01169

[33] Wu Y F, Zhou Y W, He X Q. Performance-based optimal design of compression-yielding FRP-reinforced concrete beams. Composite Structures, 2010, 93(1): 113–123

[34] LiuX CWuY FLeungA Y THouJ G. Mechanical behavior of mild steel compressive yielding blocks. In: Proceedings of the First Asia-Pacific Conference on FRP in Structures. Hong Kong: ePublications@scu, 2007, 12–14

[35] Wu Y F, Jiang J F, Liu K. Perforated SIFCON blocks—An extraordinarily ductile material ideal for use in compression yielding structural systems. Construction & Building Materials, 2010, 24(12): 2454–2465

[36] Zhou Y, Wu Y, Teng J, Leung A. Ductility analysis of compression-yielding FRP-reinforced composite beams. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2009, 31(9): 682–691

[37] Barros J A, Ferreira D R. Assessing the efficiency of CFRP discrete confinement systems for concrete cylinders. Journal of Composites for Construction, 2008, 12(2): 134–148

[38] Wang W, Sheikh M N, Al-Baali A Q, Hadi M N S. Compressive behaviour of partially FRP confined concrete: Experimental observations and assessment of the stress−strain models. Construction & Building Materials, 2018, 192(20): 785–797

[39] Ismail R, Rashid R S M, Chan W C, Jaafar M S, Hejazi F. Compressive behavior of concrete cylinder fully and partially confined by carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP). Construction & Building Materials, 2019, 201: 196–206

[40] Vijay P, GangaRao H V. Bending behavior and deformability of glass fiber-reinforced polymer reinforced concrete members. Structural Journal, 2001, 98(6): 834–842

[41] ZhouY WWuY FTengJ GLeungA Y T. Parametric space for the optimal design of compression-yielding FRP-reinforced concrete beams. Materials and Structures, 2010, 43(1−2): 81−97

[42] Wu Y F, Oehlers D J, Griffith M C. Rational definition of the flexural deformation capacity of RC column sections. Engineering Structures, 2004, 26(5): 641–650

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press