STUDY OF THE PERFORMANCE OF FRPREINFORCING BARS SUBJECTED TO EXTREMECONDITIONS OF APPLICATION

Abstract

Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials have emerged as apractical alternative material for producing reinforcing bars forconcrete structures. This is due to their relatively low cost-to-performance ratio and noncorrosive nature compared totraditional steel reinforcing bars. In addition, FRP materialsexhibit properties, such as high tensile strength, that make themsuitable for use as structural reinforcement. However, theirdurability in an alkaline environment is still of concern andfactors that can affect the long-term behaviour of GFRPmaterials have to be investigated. Moisture, high pH ofsurrounding environment, extreme temperature and the presenceof micro cracks can affect the long-term properties of FRPreinforcing bars. This paper summarizes the long-term durabilitystudy of glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcing barssubjected to different conditionings simulating the realenvironment of application. In particular, the behaviour of GFRPbars subjected moisture, high pH of moist concrete, extremetemperatures, and to tensile prestress was investigated showingthe great durability of GFRP reinforcing bars.