Experimental study on behavior of flexural member with lab-spliced GFRP bar

Abstract

The use of glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars to replace steel reinforcement in concrete structures is a relatively new technique. GFRP bars possess mechanical properties different from steel bars, including high tensile strength combined with low elastic modulus and elastic brittle stress - strain relationship. Therefore, design procedures should account for these properties. This paper presents the experimental moment deflection relations of GFRP reinforced beam which are spliced. Test variables were lab-spliced length of GFRP rebar. A total of 6 concrete beams reinforced with steel and GFRP rebar tested. Three concrete beams reinforced with spliced GFRP rebar and 1 reference beams reinforced with non-spliced GFRP rebar was tested. All the specimens had a span of 4000mm, provided with 12.7mm nominal diameter steel and GFRP rebar. All test specimens were tested under 2-point loads so that the spliced region is subject to constant moment. The experimental results show that the splice length of GFRP increased with the ultimate load increasing and decreased with stiffness.