Design of Flexural Members Reinforced with GFRP Bars

Reinforced concrete has emerged as a primary construction material since the nineteenth century. A passive combination of concrete and steel reinforcing bar (rebar), this composite material is widely used in various types of structures. However, corrosion of steel reinforcement has been identified as a significant problem affecting the structural integrity of such concrete structures. In this context, the use of GFRP bars is gaining prominence due to their non-corrosive nature. This paper presents behaviour of flexural members reinforced with GFRP bars. The strength reduction factors and guidelines available with different codes for flexural members are studied. The design of flexural members reinforced with GFRP bars has been done using Indian Standard code parameters. The flexural capacity of the beams is estimated from the strain compatibility and equilibrium of forces. The theoretical and experimental results are compared. It is seen that designing the beams as an over-reinforced section will increase the stiffness of the beams.