Performance evaluation of tensile lap splicing glass fiber-reinforced polymer reinforcing bar in concrete beam

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental study into the structural response of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers Reinforced Concrete (GFRP-RC) flexural members. The influence of lab-spliced length, reinforcement ratio and cover thickness on behavior is investigated by testing beam elements. Fourteen concrete beams reinforced with steel GFRP re-bars were tested. All the specimens had a span of 4000 mm, provided with 12.7 mm nominal diameter steel and GFRP re-bars. All test specimens were tested under 2-point loads so that the spliced region be subject to constant moment. Comparisons between experimental results and those obtained from simplified methods proposed by the ACI 440 Committee show that ACI 440.1R-06 equations can reasonably predict the load capacity and deflection of the lab-spliced GFRP reinforced concrete beams tested.