Title: Factors Affecting the Transfer Length of Prestressed GFRP Bars in Concrete

Author(s): Mohamed Zawam and Khaled A. Soudki

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 322

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 21.1-21.16

Keywords: Glass Fiber reinforced polymer; Prestressed concrete; Transfer length; material coefficient factor; ACI 440.4 R-04

DOI: 10.14359/51706972

Date: 6/18/2018

Abstract:

An experimental study was conducted to determine the transfer length of prestressed Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer bars. This paper is a part of a broad program that studies the long-term behaviour of GFRP prestressed concrete beams. 16 GFRP prestressed concrete beams were cast in this study. The parameters included were; prestressing level; 300 MPa (44 ksi) and 500 MPa (73 ksi), concrete compressive strength; 30 MPa (4440 psi) and 70 MPa (10000 psi), and the GFRP bar diameter;12Φ (No. 4) and 16Φ (No.5). Accurate estimation of the transfer length is necessary for elastic stress calculations at the service limit state and for the shear design of prestressed members. Strain gauges were used to measure strains on the GFRP bars and DEMEC gauges were used to measure the concrete surface strains at the level of the prestressed GFRP bar to determine the transfer length. The transfer length of 16Φ (No.5) GFRP bars in concrete with compressive strength of 30 MPa (4440 psi) was found to be about 17 db, and 14 db for prestressing levels of 500 MPa (73 ksi) and 300 MPa (44 ksi), respectively. The measured transfer length values were used to improve the transfer length estimates provided by the ACI 440.4 R-04 equation by calibrating the material coefficient factor (αt) used in the ACI equation.