MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF CONCRETE SLABS REINFORCED WITH STEEL AND GLASS FIBRE-REINFORCED POLYMER BARS UNDER STATIC AND CYCLIC LOADING

Steel is a fundamental material for reinforced concrete structures in construction, but it has a relatively low corrosion resistance. To overcome this drawback an alternative material is required; thus, steel reinforcements in concrete are replaced with fibre-reinforced polymer bars due to their advantages such as high corrosion resistance, high tensile strength, non-magnetic behaviour, fatigue resistance, etc. A fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) bar is an innovative solution and variable alternative to conventional steel reinforcement of civil engineering structures. The aim of using glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars is to control corrosion in reinforced concrete structures and improve the strength and durability of the structures. This study investigates the mechanical behaviour of conventional concrete slabs reinforced with steel and GFRP bars under static loading conditions. The objective is to compare the performance of slabs reinforced with these two materials, focusing on the key parameters such as load-bearing capacity, deflection, failure mode, and stiffness. Experimental results show that steel-reinforced slabs exhibit higher stiffness and resistance to deflection, with a more ductile failure mode, while GFRP-reinforced slabs, despite offering superior corrosion resistance, experience higher deflections and exhibit a more brittle failure. The study highlights the potential of GFRP bars as an alternative to steel reinforcement, particularly in environments prone to corrosion, while emphasizing the importance of considering the distinct mechanical behaviours of both materials for design and application purposes. Notably, GFRP-reinforced slabs demonstrated a 13-% higher ultimate load-carrying capacity compared to steel-reinforced slabs.