Title: Durability of GFRP Reinforcement in Seawater Concrete

Author(s): Morteza Khatibmasjedi, Antonio Nanni

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 327

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 42.1-42.12

Keywords: Seawater; Concrete, Durability; Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) bars; SEACON

DOI: 10.14359/51713363

Date: 11/1/2018

Abstract:
This paper presents partial results of an international collaborative project named ‘SEACON’ that aims at demonstrating the safe and durable utilization of seawater and salt-contaminated aggregates (natural or recycled) for a sustainable concrete production when combined with noncorrosive reinforcement. Seawater and salt-contaminated aggregates use in reinforced concrete (RC) is currently prohibited by building codes due to corrosion of the steel reinforcement. In response to this challenge, concrete made with seawater and salt-contaminated aggregate is combined with noncorrosive reinforcement (i.e. Glass-Fiber-Reinforced-Polymer (GFRP) or stainless steel). The initial results presented herein evaluate the durability of GFRP bars embedded in concrete mixed with seawater and exposed to seawater at 60 °C (140 °F) as accelerated aging. The residual mechanical properties of the embedded GFRP bars after one-year exposure to accelerated conditioning were compared to pristine bars. The experimental results showed comparable performance between GFRP bars embedded in seawater concrete and pristine bars. In addition, the bond strength of GFRP bars in seawater and conventional concrete was measured by pull out testing after being aged for six months in the same accelerated conditioning. The bond strength of the GFRP bars embedded in seawater concrete was comparable to the ones in conventional concrete.