Improving Sustainability in Concrete Structures using Corrosion-Resistant FRP Reinforcements: A Shear Behavior Study

Reinforced concrete structures are common due to their strength, durability, and low maintenance requirements.

However, steel reinforcement is prone to corrosion in structures located in aggressive environments, such as marine structures, bridges, and parking garages exposed to deicing salts. Corrosion in turn leads to structural deterioration and safety concerns.

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are corrosion-resistant and durable, and are therefore emerging as attractive alternatives to steel reinforcement.

Unfortunately, the design of FRP-reinforced concrete beams and evaluations of their shear capacity are complicated by FRP’s unique mechanical properties, which include a low modulus of elasticity, high tensile strength without yielding, anisotropy, and complex bar-concrete interface behavior.

Current design codes offer some guidance on these issues but have many limitations and may generate inaccurate predictions.This project will clarify the shear behavior of concrete slender beams reinforced with FRP bars and FRP stirrups through experimental and theoretical studies leading to the development of an analytical model to explain and predict the shear behavior of such beams.

As such, it will facilitate the design, assessment, and maintenance of FRP-reinforced concrete structures in aggressive environments and will benefit the construction industry and society by supporting the creation of sustainable infrastructure that is robust to challenging conditions.