Feasibility Study of using Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer rebars as Reinforcement in Concrete

Abstract

Glass fiber reinforced polymer rebars are those materials made from the glass fibers in a polymeric matrix. The use of the glass fiber reinforced polymer rebars in modern world has proved to be advantageous in the civil infrastructures due to its corrosive resistant nature. Not only to this advantage, the GFRP rebars are light in weight and can be transported and handled easily with high factor of safety. The other mechanical characteristics of GFRP rebars such as non-conductive to electricity and heat makes them an ideal choice for specific infrastructures like hospitals and industries. Because they serve to be long lasting rebars than steel rebars they are considered to be cost effective product as not much maintenance is required. In this study the steel rebars and GFRP rebars are placed as reinforcement in the concrete cement and is compared with respect to the flexural property with each other for the feasibility of reinforcement. The beams of cross section 100mm x 100mm of length 500mm with 12mm diameter of GFRP rebars and steel rebars are tested for flexural behavior. This paper also attempts to present the knowledge why the use of GFRP rebars is not common in some area’s despite of their various advantages.