Title:
Mechanical Properties of Seawater Glass Fiber Polymer Reinforced Concrete
Author(s):
Park
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
ws_S24_Park.pdf
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
3/23/2024
Abstract:
For centuries, seawater has served as a substitute for freshwater in regions facing scarcity of the latter, like coastal areas. However, there have been concerns about the structural implications of using seawater in concrete. Multiple studies have shown that using seawater as a substitute in concrete can lead to significant structural problems, particularly corrosion within the concrete and its reinforcement, attributed to carbonation from the seawater mixture. We hypothesized that by replacing traditional steel reinforcement with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) can mitigate corrosion risks, preserving the integrity of sea concrete for more sustainable use. To investigate this hypothesis, we conduct a series of compression and indirect tension tests on small scaled seawater GFRP reinforced concrete columns at 3, 7, 28, and 90 days after pouring. The tested specimens include both seawater and freshwater mixed concrete, utilizing both steel and glass fiber polymer reinforcement for each sample. Particularly, we focus on the mechanical properties variation in seawater concrete with GFRP reinforcement versus traditional mechanical properties. Additionally, we analyzed characteristics of the water used in the experiments, specifically focusing on changes in characteristics such as sulfate content and pH to see its effects on the concrete. Based on the results obtained, it is suggested that the freshwater and steel reinforced concrete holds up slightly higher compressive stresses over time. These results also demonstrate the feasibility of GFRP reinforcement as a substitute for steel reinforcement in marine environments. Such materials can further enhance the utilization of sea concrete in a safer and sustainable way.