Title:
Bond Performance of Grouted Splice-Sleeve Connections Using Cylindrical and Tapered Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Sleeves
Author(s):
K. Koushfar, A. B. A. Rahman, S. J. A. Hosseini, H.-J. Hwang, S. C. Alih, M. Vafaei, S. K. Hosseini, A. Kia, and J.-Y. Kim
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
123
Issue:
4
Appears on pages(s):
215-230
Keywords:
carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP); confinement effect; glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP); grouted splice-sleeve connector (GSSC); tapered sleeve
DOI:
10.14359/51750585
Date:
7/1/2026
Abstract:
Although grouted splice-sleeve connectors (GSSCs) are notably used in precast concrete structures, steel sleeves are heavy and have corrosion issues. The bond characteristics of GSSCs using cylindrical and tapered fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sleeves—lighter alternatives—were investigated in this study. A series of pullout tests for 144 specimens were conducted to evaluate the effects of FRP type, number of layers, shape, and length on the bond characteristics of GSSCs. The test results showed that for FRP GSSCs, tapered FRP sleeves effectively developed confinement compared with cylindrical FRP sleeves, leading to better bond strength and shorter development length. A design equation was proposed for estimating the tensile strength of FRP-based GSSCs, which predicted well the test results. The tapered FRP sleeves reduced the development length compared with cylindrical FRP sleeves, implying greater FRP GSSC efficiency in precast concrete structures, which provides engineers with valuable insights for efficient FRP splice-sleeve design in precast concrete structures.
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