Title: Tensile Strength of GFRP Bars Under Sustained Loading in Concrete Beams

Author(s): C.E. Bakis, T.E. Boothby, R.A. Schaut, and C.G. Pantano

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 230

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1429-1446

Keywords: durability; EDS; GFRP; reinforcement bar; sustained load;tensile strength; TMA

DOI: 10.14359/14902

Date: 10/1/2005

Abstract:
Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars were placed under load inconcrete beams for periods of time as long as three years in natural and harshenvironments. Following flexural loading, the bars were carefully extracted from thebeams and tested in order to evaluate residual tensile properties. It was found that thetensile strength decreased in the highly aggressive conditions but not in the naturalconditions. The modulus of elasticity and ultimate strain did not change appreciably inany of the four conditions. Analysis of selected bars using thermo-mechanical analysisindicated only slight effects of conditioning on glass transition temperature andtransverse coefficient of thermal expansion. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopyindicated no signs of damage, loss of cross section, or change in material compositionof the bars.