Title: Evaluation of FRP Bars & Meshes Used as Secondary Reinforcement for Nonstructural Concrete Members for Building Code Compliance

Author(s): Mahmut Ekenel, Hossein Roghani, Francisco De Caso y Basalo, and Antonio Nanni

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 356

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 109-119

Keywords: building codes; composites; FRP Bars; FRP meshes; noncorrosive; non-structural; reinforcement

DOI: 10.14359/51737250

Date: 10/1/2022

Abstract:
Advances in technology have opened doors for building construction with new materials that are lightweight, efficient, noncorrosive, and reliable in terms of durability without a sacrifice in strength and performance. One of these technologies is the use of FRP bars and meshes in concrete members as internal reinforcement. Although FRP bars as structural reinforcement in concrete members have been successfully utilized in building and bridge projects (i.e., slabs, beams, etc.) for the past three decades; recently, there has been an interest in using FRP bars and meshes as secondary reinforcement for non-structural concrete members such as plain concrete footings, concrete slabs-on-ground, and plain concrete walls in lieu of code-compliant conventional temperature and shrinkage steel reinforcement. Because the use of FRP bars and meshes as secondary reinforcement is not within the provisions of the International Building Code (IBC), the predominant building code in the United States, an acceptance criterion (AC521) has been developed under IBC Section 104.11. This paper explains the requirements of AC521, and how FRP bars and meshes as secondary reinforcement of nonstructural concrete members are evaluated to show compliance with the provisions of the IBC.