The non-corrodible nature of FRP bars along with their high strength, light weight and ease of installation made it attractive as reinforcement especially for structures exposed to aggressive environment. In addition, the transparency of FRP bars to magnetic and electrical fields makes them an ideal alternative to traditional steel reinforcement in applications sensitive to electromagnetic fields such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) units. Continuous concrete beams are commonly-used elements in structures such as parking garages and overpasses, which might be exposed to extreme weather conditions and the application of de-icing salts. In such structures, using the non-corrodible FRP bars is a viable alternative to avoid steel-corrosion problems. However, the linear-elastic behaviour of FRP materials makes the ability of continuous beams to redistribute loads and moments questionable. The objective of this research project is to investigate the flexural behaviour of continuous concrete beams reinforced with FRP and their capability of moment redistribution. An experimental program was conducted at the University of Manitoba to realize the research objectives. Ten full-scale continuous concrete beams were constructed and tested to failure in the laboratory. The specimens had a rectangular cross-section of 200×300 mm and continuous over two spans of 2,800 mm each. The main investigated parameters were the amount and material of longitudinal reinforcement, the amount and material of transverse reinforcement and the spacing of used stirrups. The experimental results showed that moment redistribution in FRP-reinforced continuous concrete beams is possible if the reinforcement configuration is chosen properly, and is improved by increasing the amount of transverse reinforcement. A finite element investigation was conducted using ANSYS-software. A 3-D model was created to simulate the behaviour of continuous beams reinforced with FRP. The model was verified against the experimental results obtained from the present study. This verified model was used to investigate the effect of the concrete compressive strength, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, midspan-to-middle support reinforcement ratio and the amount of transverse reinforcement on the behaviour of FRP-reinforced beams. The analytical results of this parametric investigation along with the experimental results were used to propose an allowable limit for moment redistribution in FRP-reinforced continuous concrete beams.

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Dowel bars are provided at the transverse joints of the Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP) to transfer the load between adjoining slabs and to allow for expansion and contraction of the pavement due to temperature and moisture changes. The current study involved evaluation of the performance of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) dowels in JPCP as an alternative to the conventional epoxy-coated steel dowel bars, especially in the presence of dowel misalignment. This research involved two main sets of experimental tests. The first set focused on the evaluation of load-deflection response of GFRP dowels using a scaled model of pavement slabs. The second set investigated the combined effect of dowel misalignment and cyclic wheel load on the performance of steel and GFRP dowels. The tested slabs (in the second set) were supported on a steel-beam base with stiffness such that the effects of the underlying layers of real pavements are incorporated. In both of these sets of experiment the GFRP dowels were compared with the steel dowels of similar flexural rigidity. The research also involved detailed numerical investigations using ABAQUS for all experimental tests in the current study. The validated numerical model was used to conduct three sets of parametric studies: to propose design considerations for the GFRP dowels; to simulate all important cases of dowel misalignment (111 cases) for steel and GFRP dowels and to give an insight into the damaged volume in the surrounding concrete pavement; and to investigate the effects of diameter, length and type of dowel bar, concrete grade, pavement thickness, and slab-base friction on the joint-opening behaviour. The results from the first set of experiments showed that the 38 mm GFRP dowels perform better in terms of deflection response compared to the 25 mm steel dowels. Also, it was observed that the relative deflection (RD) is more sensitive to the changes in the joint width rather than the concrete strength. The numerical results from the first set showed a good agreement with the experimental results and showed lower magnitude and better distribution of stress in the concrete underneath the GFRP dowels as compared with the steel dowels. Finally, on the basis of a detailed parametric study (70 different cases), design considerations for GFRP dowels in JPCP were suggested. The second set of experimental results showed that the GFRP dowels can withstand a cyclic traffic load and significantly reduce joint lockup and dowel looseness (DL) and can provide sufficient load transfer efficiency (LTE). It was also observed that the dowel misalignment affects DL significantly more than the repeated traffic load. Slab-base separation and the orientation of misaligned dowels have significant effects on the pull-out load required to open the joint. The numerical results from the second set indicated that the pull-out load was small for the vertical misalignment cases compared to the horizontal and combined misalignment cases. The results also indicated the occurrence of concrete spalling and deterioration at smaller joint openings for combined misalignment when compared to other misalignment types. The use of GFRP dowels significantly reduced the pull-out load and joint lockup when dowel misalignment exists. Consequently, the deterioration of the surrounding pavement substantially decreased. The long term performance of the JPCP fitted with GFRP dowels improves because of a reduction in the DL and the RD, and by maintaining a good LTE even for misaligned dowels. The numerical results also showed that the pull-out load increases significantly for an increase in the concrete compressive strength and the dowel bar diameter. Small increase in pull-out load was observed for higher embedded length of the dowel bar, whereas the increase was insignificant for an increase in the pavement thickness and slab-base friction. In general, the study showed the GFRP dowel can be a potential alternative for the conventional steel dowel bars in JPCP.

[pt] Este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar a influência de temperaturas elevadas no comportamento à flexão de compósitos poliméricos reforçados com fibra de vidro fabricados pelo processo de pultrusão. São analisados quatro diferentes compósitos constituídos por matrizes de resinas poliéster isoftálica, éster vinílica ou fenólica, reforçados por fibras de vidro tipo E dispostas na forma de rovings, manta de filamentos contínuos e véus. Fundamentos teóricos associados aos comportamentos mecânico e físico de materiais compósitos poliméricos reforçados com fibra de vidro são apresentados e os resultados de um programa experimental que envolveu ensaios à flexão, antes e após exposição às temperaturas de até 320 graus Celsius, análises da degradação dos materiais através de ensaios de termogravimetria e ensaios à tração, são reportados e analisados. As análises das propriedades mecânicas envolveram: estudo do módulo de elasticidade, tensão de ruptura e deformação. Os resultados mostraram que, apesar da degradação aparente, as propriedades mecânicas apresentaram melhoras em temperaturas próximas de 200 graus Celsius e não apresentaram significativas alterações após exposições até 320 graus Celsius. Os compósitos de matriz éster vinílica apresentaram as maiores resistências e o compósito de matriz fenólica se mostrou menos resistente e com comportamento mais frágil. Por fim, amostras dos materiais foram analisadas no microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV), antes e após a exposição à temperatura elevadas, com o objetivo de se verificar danos microestruturais em sua estrutura. / [en] This work aims to investigate the influence of high temperatures on the flexural behavior of pultruded glass fiber reinforced polymeric profiles made by the pultrusion process. Four different composites constituted by isophthalic polyester, ester vinilic or phenolic resins reinforced with E-glass fibers arranged in form of rovings, continuous filaments and veils are analyzed. Theories associated with the mechanical and physical behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer composites are presented and the results of an experimental program involving bending tests, before and after exposure to temperatures up to 320 degrees Celsius, thermogravimetric material degradation analyzes and tensile tests, are reported and analyzed. The analysis of the mechanical properties involved: study of modulus of elasticity, tensile strength and strain. The results showed that, despite the apparent degradation, the mechanical properties showed improvements at temperatures close to 200 degrees Celsius and did not show significant changes after exposures up to 320 degrees Celsius. The composites of the vinyl ester matrix showed the highest strengths and the phenolic matrix composite showed lower resistant and fragile behavior. Finally, samples of the materials were analyzed in the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), before and after exposure to high temperatures, in order to verify microstructural damages in its structure.

The diploma thesis is devided into two levels. The Primary part of the thesis is the theoretical part, which is part of project „FV10588 – New generation of spatial prefab made from high-firm concrete with increased mechanical resistence and endurance“, realized in cooperation with Faculty of Civil Engineering at VUT university – Institute of concrete and masonry structures. The project deals with frame corners in the form of steel and composite reinforcement which will compared through experiments and various kind of calculate proceedings. The secondary part of thesis focuses on the static-design project of cooling reservoir, placed under the ground, while is stressed by temperature. The reinforcement of the construction is realized in two ways – steel and composite reinforcement with their effectivity compared.

An investigation on the application of hybrid glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) and steel bars bars as longitudinal reinforcement for simple and continuous concrete beams is presented. Three simply and eleven multi-spans continuous reinforced concrete beams were constructed and tested to failure. Nine continuous and two simply supported beams were reinforced with a hybrid combination of both GFRP and steel re-bars at mid spans and internal support regions. In addition, two continuous concrete beams reinforced with either GFRP or steel bars and one simply supported beam reinforced with GFRP bars were tested as control beams. The beams were classified into two groups according to the reinforcement configurations. All specimens tested were 200 mm in width and 300 mm in depth. The continuous beams comprised of two equal spans, each of 2600 mm, while the simply supported beams had a span of 2600 mm. Unlike GFRP reinforced concrete beams, the hybrid and steel reinforced concrete beams failed in a favourable ductile manner and demonstrated narrow cracks and smaller deflections compared to the GFRP-reinforced control beam. The lower stiffness and higher deflection of GFRP reinforced concrete beams can be controlled and improved by the use of steel reinforcement in combination with GFRP re-bars. However, the ratio of GFRP to steel reinforcement is a key factor to ensure sufficient ductility and stiffness beyond the first cracking stage. The experimental results showed that the extent of moment redistribution in hybrid reinforced continuous beams depends mainly on the amount of hybrid reinforcement ratio in critical sections. Similar area of steel and GFRP bars in critical sections leads to limited moment redistribution whereas different amount of steel and FRP bars in critical sections leads to a remarkable moment redistribution. Design guidelines and formulas have been validated against experimental results of hybrid GFRP/steel reinforced concrete beams tested. The Yoon’s equation reasonably predicted the deflections of the hybrid beams tested whereas Qu’s model which is based on ACI 440.1R-15 underestimated the deflections of hybrid beams tested at all stage of loading after cracking. The ACI 440.2R-08 and Pang et al., (2015) equations reasonably predicted the sagging failure moment in most continuous hybrid reinforced concrete beams, whereas they underestimated the hogging flexural strength at failure of most hybrid continuous beams. On the other hand, the formulas proposed by Yinghao et al., (2013) was very conservative in predicting the failure moment at the critical sagging and hogging sections. On the analytical side, a numerical technique consisting of sectional analyses has been developed to predict the moment–curvature relationship and moment capacity of hybrid FRP/ steel reinforced concrete members. The numerical technique has been validated against the experimental test results obtained from the current research and those reported in the literature. In addition, a two-dimensional nonlinear finite element model was proposed using ABAQUS package. The proposed model was validated against the experimental results of the beams tested in the present research. / Higher Education Institute in the Libyan Government

Yes / Although several research studies have been conducted on investigating the bond stress – slip behaviour of Glass-Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars embedded in high strength concrete (HSC) using a pull-out method, there is no published work on the bond behaviour of GFRP bars embedded in high strength concrete using a hinged beam. This paper presents the experimental work consisted of testing 28 hinged beams prepared according to RILEM specifications. The investigation of bond performance of GFRP bars in HSC was carried out by analysing the effect of the following parameters: bar diameter (9.5, 12.7 and 15.9 mm), embedment length (5 and 10 times bar diameter), surface configuration (helical wrapping with slight sand coating (HW-SC) and sand coating (SC)) and bar location (top and bottom). Four hinged beams reinforced with 16 mm steel bar were also tested for comparison purposes. The majority of beam specimens failed by pull-out. Visual inspection of the test specimens showed that the bond failure of GFRP (HW-SC) bars usually occurred owing to the bar surface damage, while the bond failure of GFRP (SC) bars was caused due to the detachment of sand coating. The GFRP bars with helical wrapping and sand coated surface configurations showed different bond behaviour and it was found that the bond performance of the sand coated surface was better than that of the helically wrapped surface. Bond strength reduced as the embedment length and bar diameter increased. It was also observed that the bond strength for the bottom bars was higher than that of the top bars. The bond strength was compared against the prediction methods given in ACI-440.1R, CSA-S806 and CSA-S6 codes. All design guidelines underestimated the bond strength of both GFRP re-bars embedded in high strength concrete. / Ministry of Higher Education in Libya for funding.