Title: Hysteresis Behavior of GFRP-Reinforced Precast Concrete Tunnel Segments under Cyclic Load

Author(s): Basil Ibrahim, Salaheldin Mousa, Hamdy M. Mohamed, Brahim Benmokrane

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume:

Issue:

Appears on pages(s):

Keywords: deformability; glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars; high-strength concrete (HSC); hysteresis behavior; normal-strength concrete (NSC); precast concrete tunnel lining (PCTL) segments; quasi-static cyclic flexural loading

DOI: 10.14359/51740480

Date: 1/24/2024

Abstract:
The hysteresis response of precast concrete tunnel lining (PCTL) segments reinforced internally with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars under quasi-static cyclic flexural loading is an area for which no experimental research results are available. This paper reports on an investigation of the hysteresis behavior of PCTL segments reinforced internally with glass-FRP (GFRP) bars. Full-scale curvilinear GFRP-reinforced PCTL segments were designed, fabricated, and tested under quasi-static cyclic flexural loading. The segments measured 3100 mm (122 in.) in length, 1500 mm (59 in.) in width, and 250 mm (9.8 in.) in thickness. The test parameters were the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, the transverse reinforcement configuration, and the concrete compressive strength. The hysteresis response, cracking pattern, and ductility of the PCTL segments were identified and experimentally evaluated. The experimental results of the current study demonstrate that the hysteresis response of the curvilinear GFRP-reinforced PCTL segments had stable cyclic behavior with no or limited strength degradation until failure. In addition, analytical prediction of the load-carrying capacity, deflection, and unloading stiffness of the test segments was carried out. The segments’ analytically predicted responses were validated and compared to the experimental results. The segments’ analytically predicted models for the post-cracking loading tangent stiffness and unloading stiffness for the curvilinear GFRP-reinforced PCTL segments are proposed herein. The analytically predicted hysteresis response shows accurate predictions with comparable loading stiffness, unloading stiffness, and residual deformation at the end of each loading cycle.