Direct Tensile Test of GFRP Bar Reinforced Concrete Prisms

Uniaxial tension test of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bar reinforced concrete prisms was performed. The objective was to investigate the adequate cover thickness of the GFRP rebars. The tension stiffening effect of GFRP bar reinforced concrete was also studied. The test variables included rebar types (conventional steel rebar and two different GFRP rebars) and cover thicknesses (five different cover thicknesses ranging between 1-3db). Normal strength concrete was used. Cracking patterns on concrete surface and cracking loads were careful1y observed during the direct tensile test. The test results indicated that the adequate cover thickness of the GFRP rebars may even be larger than that of the steel rebars and that the cover thickness of 2db commonly specified for the GFRP rebars may not be large enough. The tension stiffening effect of the GFRP rebars was also quantified and documented from the test results.