Title: Shear Behavior of Geopolymer Concrete Beams Reinforced with Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bars

Author(s): G. B. Maranan, A. C. Manalo, B. Benmokrane, W. Karunasena, and P. Mendis

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 114

Issue: 2

Appears on pages(s): 337-348

Keywords: geopolymers; glass fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRP); shear; stirrups

DOI: 10.14359/51689150

Date: 3/1/2017

Abstract:
The shear behavior of geopolymer concrete beams reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars and stirrups was investigated. Six short beams with a shear-span-to-effective-depth ratio (a/d) of 1.8 were cast: one with no stirrups, three with different stirrup spacing, one with less reinforcement, and one with steel stirrups. In addition, a slender beam (a/d = 4.7) with the same cross-sectional area was built to investigate the influence of a/d. Experimental results showed that the GFRP stirrups enhanced both the shear strength and deflection capacity of the beams by approximately 200%. The shear crack initiated at a higher load and with a finer crack width in the beam with narrower stirrup spacing. The short beam yielded higher shear strength than the slender beam with a similar transverse reinforcement ratio. The beams with GFRP stirrups yielded a shear strength and deflection capacity—including an analogous load deflection response—similar to that of the beam with steel stirrups.