Deflection Analysis in Beams Reinforced with GFRP

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites utilizing glass fibers (GFRP) represent an established solution for concrete reinforcement, particularly in corrosive settings or applications requiring non-magnetic properties. Unlike conventional steel reinforcement, GFRP rebars are not subject to corrosion, which translate into an increased service life of structural members in harsh environments such as marine atmospheres, industrial plants or infrastructures influenced by de-icing salts. In the same study, a series of test program were done to quantify the mechanical properties of GFRP bars, in terms of effective-diameter, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. Then three types of beams were compared and studied; one with a conventional deformed steel as strengthening method, the second one used FRP bars to serve as a “super-reinforced” beam and a third design was made for the optimized shapes in section geometry increasing the moment of inertia performance using GFRP bars for reinforcement. It was showed by the experimental and analytical results that beam with GFRP as a reinforcement has fulfilled satisfactory structural performance. Then, the optimal geometry as well as the super-reinforced beam attained comparable stiffness to that of the steel-reinforced reference beam. It is also apparent from the results that substitution of traditional reinforcement with GFRP can be technically feasible. On the other hand, if geometrical optimization of the structural member is possible, higher inerialicity may be safely considered as a cost-effective measure since it merges together structural adequacy and economy.