Concrete beam-column joints are critical elements in the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The use of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcement in these joints has gained attention due to its superior mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the seismic performance of CFRP-reinforced concrete beam-column joints, focusing on the development of a suitable formula for estimating the seismic shear capacity. Utilizing a finite element analysis (FEA) that was both developed and validated using pre-existing test data, a comprehensive parametric study was undertaken to explore the impact of several factors. These factors encompassed axial load, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, and transverse reinforcement ratio, and their effects on the seismic performance of CFRP-RC joints were thoroughly investigated. Eventually, a suitable formula was proposed for estimating the seismic shear capacity of CFRP-RC joints. Research results will lead in a better understanding of the seismic behavior of CFRP-reinforced concrete beam-column joints, which will consequently guide the design and analysis of CFRP-reinforced concrete structures for enhanced seismic performance.

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars can serve as an appropriate substitute for steel rebar due to their lightweight, high strength, and good corrosion resistance. Nevertheless, the long-term success of FRP bars as promising reinforcement in concrete depends on understanding the bond between FRP bars and concrete. ACI 440.1R-15 recommends utilizing CSA S806-12 Annex S ‘‘Test Method for Determining the Bond-Dependent Coefficient of FRP Rods” for estimating the design value of the bond-dependent coefficient (kb). However, this testing method requires a four-point loaded 3.0-meter-long beam with continuous assessment of developed crack width. Due to the complexity of the test, studies were scarce in assessing the factors affecting the kb. Therefore, this study aimed to relate the experimental kb obtained from large-scale testing to a relatively simpler bond strength value, τu , obtained from smaller-scale FRP pull-out test. The relation was established utilizing data collection for both tests from experimental studies. Three machine learning techniques (Ensembled Trees Artificial Neural Network and Gaussian Process Machines) were then applied to mimic and understand the complex bond-behaviour at varying FRP and concrete properties. The results have shown promising relation (R2>0.8) between kb and τu for different surface textures and fibre types.

While reinforced concrete is one of the most used construction materials, traditional reinforcement steel may cause undesirable side effects, as corrosion and the associated volume changes can lead to damages in the concrete matrix and can cause spalling, which may significantly reduce the load-bearing capacity and service life of structures. Alternative reinforcement methods, such as glass or basalt fiber reinforced polymer rebars, can serve as a viable alter-native to reduce or eliminate some of the disadvantages associated with steel reinforcement. In addition to an increased tensile strength and a reduction in weight, fiber reinforced polymer rebars also offer a high corrosion resistance among other beneficial properties. Because these materials are not fully regulated yet and the durability properties have not been conclusively determined, further research is needed to evaluate the material durability properties of FRP rebars. To determine the durability properties of GFRP and BFRP rebars in cold climates, the freeze-thaw resistance of these materials was evaluated throughout this study. Specifically, two types of materials (basalt and glass reinforced polymers) and two common rebar sizes (8 mm (#2) and 16 mm (#5) diameters) were tested. To quantify the freeze-thaw-durability, tensile tests according to ASTM D7205, transverse shear strength tests in line with ASTM D7617, and horizontal shear strength tests as specified in ASTM D4475 were conducted on numerous virgin fiber rebars and on fiber rebars that were subjected to 80 and 160 freeze-thaw cycles. While the results from the virgin materials served as benchmark values, the measurements and analysis from the aged (by freeze-thaw cycles) materials were used to quantify and determine the strength retention capacity of these bars. The results showed that a higher number of freeze-thaw cycles lead to lower strength retention for some rebar types. In addition, it was seen that rebar products respond differently to the aging process; while some material properties notably deteriorated, other material properties were insignificantly affected.

Developments in the prestressed concrete industry evolved to incorporate innovative design materials and strategies driven towards a more sustainable and durable infrastructure. With steel corrosion being the biggest durability issue for concrete bridges, FRP tendons have been gaining acceptance in modern prestressed technologies, as bonded or unbonded reinforcement, or as part of a “hybrid” system that combines unbonded CFRP tendons and bonded steel strands. Assessments of the efficacy of hybrid-steel beams, combining bonded and unbonded steel tendons. in the construction of segmental bridges and in retrofitting damaged members has been established by several researchers. However, limited research has been conducted on comparable hybrid prestressed beams combining CFRP and steel tendons (hybrid steel-cfrp beams). This paper provides an insight on the flexural behaviour of eighteen prestressed beams tested under third-point loading until failure with the emphasis on the tendon materials (i.e., CFRP and steel) and bonding condition (i.e., bonded, unbonded). In addition, a comprehensive finite element analysis of the beams’ overall behaviour following the trussed-beam methodology is conducted and compared with the experimental results. Results show that hybrid beams, utilizing CFRP as the unbonded element maintained comparable performance when compared to hybrid steel beams. The results presented in this paper aim to expand the use of hybrid tendons and facilitate their incorporation into standard design provisions and guidelines.

The use of FRP tendons has become an attractive alternative to steel tendons in prestressed concrete structures to avoid strength and serviceability problems related to corrosion of steel. There is however a lack of knowledge in serviceability behavior related to deflection after cracking for beams prestressed with FRP tendons. Conventional approaches used to compute deflection of cracked members prestressed with steel is problematic at best, and the situation is exacerbated further with the use of FRP tendons having a lower modulus of elasticity than steel. Deflection of FRP reinforced (nonprestressed) concrete flexural members computed with Branson’s effective moment of inertia 𝐼􀀁 requires a correction factor (called a softening factor) that reduces the member stiffness sufficiently to provide reasonable estimates of post-cracking deflection. For FRP prestressed concrete however, this approach does not always work as expected and deflection can be either underestimated or overestimated significantly.

This study investigates the accuracy of different models proposed for estimating deflection of cracked FRP prestressed members using a database of 38 beams collected from the literature. All beams are fully prestressed. Results indicate that using Branson’s effective moment of inertia 𝐼􀀁 with a generic softening factor can produce reasonable estimates of deflection provided the 𝐼􀀁 response is shifted up to the decompression moment or adjusted with an effective prestress moment defined by an effective eccentricity of the prestress force. The former approach overpredicts deflection by 20% on average while the latter overpredicts deflection by not more than 5% based on the beams available for comparison. Assuming a bilinear moment deflection response overpredicts deflection by 12%, while an approach proposed by Bischoff (which also shifts the 𝐼􀀁 response upwards) overpredicts deflection by 23%. These last two approaches work reasonably well without the need for a correction factor.