Exploring the flexural behavior of the <scp>PET</scp> ‐modified concrete beam reinforced with <scp>FRP</scp> bars

Abstract As the demand for sustainable materials increases, there is a significant necessity to consider the re‐utilization of plastic waste, especially polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in construction. This study examines the flexural behavior of the PET‐modified concrete beam reinforced with glass‐fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. The primary objective is to evaluate the combined effect of PET content and reinforcement type (GFRP and steel) on the flexural behavior of the beam. The compressive strength of PET‐modified concrete was 17.68%, 13.61%, and 15.26% higher than M20, M25, and M30 grade conventional concrete (CC) mix at 28 days. Similarly, the split tensile strength and bond strength was also higher than CC mix at 28 days. It was found that the concrete modified with 12.5% PET granules were optimum for enhancing the mechanical properties of concrete. The M20, M25, and M30 grade PET modified concrete beam reinforced with GFRP showed a 23.1%, 22.2%, and 17.2% increase in load‐bearing capacity compared to the PET modified concrete beam reinforced with steel bars. Moreover, the PET modified concrete beams of grades M20, M25, and M30 reinforced with GFRP showed deflection capacities that were 189%, 214%, and 183% higher compared to the PET modified concrete beam reinforced with steel bars. The findings conclude the potential of PET‐GFRP systems to deliver sustainable and mechanically superior alternatives to conventional reinforced concrete.