Flexural Testing of Steel, GFRP, BFRP, and Hybrid Reinforced Beams

The construction industry is exploring alternatives to traditional steel reinforcement in concrete due to steel's corrosion vulnerability. Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) and Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP), known for their high tensile strength and corrosion resistance, are viable options. This study evaluates the flexural performance of concrete beams reinforced with GFRP, BFRP, and hybrid systems combining these materials with steel, following ACI 440.1R-15 guidelines. Twelve beams were assessed under three-point bending to compare their flexural strength, ductility, and failure modes against steel reinforcement. Results indicate that GFRP and BFRP beams achieve higher ultimate load capacities but lower deflections at failure than steel. Hybrid reinforcements enhance both load capacity and deflection performance. However, GFRP and BFRP beams show reduced energy absorption, suggesting that hybrid systems could better support critical applications like seismic and impact-prone structures by improving ductility and load handling.