Experimental testing of medium scale GFRP reinforced concrete frames

Abstract

Fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) have been used as strengthening for existing RC structures for many decades. Lately, there has been a lot of interest in using FRP as internal reinforcement in beams, slabs and columns. One potential area of application could be reinforced concrete frames internally reinforced with GFRP bars. With limited research in this direction, the objective of this publication is to assess the behaviour of glass FRP (GFRP) reinforced concrete frames under reversed cyclic lateral in plane loading and to analyse the seismic performances of such elements. For the purpose of this paper, experimental testing of two 1/3 scaled down frames is conducted in displacement-controlled mode with the loading history according to ACI 374.1-05. The control sample is reinforced with conventional steel reinforcement and the results obtained are compared with the sample reinforced with GFRP bars. In summary, observations on the sample behaviour at specified drift ratio such as load-displacement behaviour, envelope curves and energy dissipation are presented.