Volume 1, Number 3 (September, 2008) p.

285 - 295 • ISSN 1983-4195

Behavior of reinforced concrete beams reinforced

with GFRP bars

Comportamento de vigas de concreto armadas

com barras de GFRP (fibras de vidro impregnadas
com polímero)

D. H. TAVARES a
danusa.tavares@usherbrooke.ca

J. S. GIONGO b
jsgiongo@sc.usp.br

P. PAULTRE c
patrick.paultre@usherbrooke.ca

Abstract
The use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars is one of the alternatives presented in recent studies to prevent the drawbacks related to the
steel reinforcement in specific reinforced concrete members. In this work, six reinforced concrete beams were submitted to four point bending
tests. One beam was reinforced with CA-50 steel bars and five with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. The tests were carried out in
the Department of Structural Engineering in São Carlos Engineering School, São Paulo University. The objective of the test program was to
compare strength, reinforcement deformation, displacement, and some anchorage aspects between the GFRP-reinforced concrete beams
and the steel-reinforced concrete beam. The results show that, even though four GFRP-reinforced concrete beams were designed with the
same internal tension force as that with steel reinforcement, their capacity was lower than that of the steel-reinforced beam. The results also
show that similar flexural capacity can be achieved for the steel- and for the GFRP-reinforced concrete beams by controlling the stiffness
(reinforcement modulus of elasticity multiplied by the bar cross-sectional area – EA) and the tension force of the GFRP bars.

Keywords: FRP, GFRP, GFRP reinforcement, flexural behavior of GFRP bars.

Resumo
As propriedades das barras de aço são causas de importantes problemas, tais como a durabilidade, ocorridos em certas estruturas de concreto
armado. O uso de barras de fibras de vidro impregnadas com polímero (FRP) é uma das alternativas encontradas na literatura para essas estruturas
específicas. Neste trabalho, seis vigas de concreto armado foram submetidas a ensaios de flexão em quatro pontos. Uma das vigas foi armada com
aço CA-50 (viga de controle) e outras cinco foram armadas com barras de fibra de vidro impregnadas com polímero. Os ensaios foram realizados no
Departamento de Engenharia de Estruturas da Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos. O programa experimental tinha por objetivo fazer uma com-
paração, em termos de resistência, deformação da armadura, deslocamento e alguns aspectos de ancoragem, das vigas armadas com barras de
GFRP e a viga de controle armada com barras de aço CA-50. Os resultados mostraram que as vigas armadas com barras de GFRP apresentaram
resistências menores do que a da viga armada com barras de aço, quando dimensionadas com os mesmos parâmetros de resistência. Além disso,
foi observado que as vigas armadas com barras de GFRP podem atingir a mesma resistência à flexão da viga com barras de aço se, além da força
resultante das tensões de tração nas barras também as rigidezes forem iguais, ou seja, se os produtos de inércia Ec Ac forem iguais.

Palavras-chave: FRP, GFRP, barras de fibras impregnadas com polímero, barras de fibra de vidro, comportamento à flexão de vigas
armadas com barras de GFRP.

a
CRGP (PhD student), Département de Génie Civil, Université de Sherbrooke, danusa.tavares@usherbrooke.ca, 1200 Boul. de l’Université,
Sherbrooke, Canada
b
Departamento de Engenharia de Estruturas, EESC - USP, jsgiongo@sc.usp.br, Av. Trabalhador Sãocarlense 400, São Carlos, Brasil
c
CRGP, Département de Génie Civil, Université de Sherbrooke, patrick.paultre@usherbrooke.ca, 1200 Boul. de l’Université, Sherbrooke, Canada

© 2008 IBRACON
Behavior of reinforced concrete beams reinforced with GFRP bars

1. Introduction 2. Materials and experimental program

The durability of concrete structures has always been a great The test program includes six reinforced concrete beams: one con-
concern. One of the most pressing problems in controlling trol specimen reinforced with deformed steel bars and five rein-
durability relates to corrosion of steel reinforcement. Coast- forced with longitudinal GFRP bars. All beams were reinforced with
al structures, chemical industry facilities, ports, and bridges steel stirrups. While the concrete and the steel properties were
are examples of critical structures subject to reinforcement determined according to Brazilian codes, the material properties
corrosion. One solution to this problem is using an alterna- of the GFRP bars used in the project were taken as provided by
the manufacturer. The GFRP bars (Aslam 100) were supplied by
tive reinforcement material. This paper discusses the use of
Hughes Brothers Inc.; Owens Corning Brasil provided for shipping
glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars as reinforcement
from the United States to Brazil.
for concrete structures.
All the beam specimens were submitted to a four-point bending
GFRP bars are made of composite fibers and possess numer-
test. Four main aspects were examined: flexural strength, rein-
ous distinct properties such as excellent fatigue behavior, high
forcement deformation, displacement, and bonding. All beam
strength-to-weight ratio, high tensile strength, and nonconduc- specimens had a 150×300 mm cross-section and a span length of
tivity, while their thermal expansion is close to that of concrete. 2900 mm. Figure [1] shows details of the beam specimens.
When used as reinforcement in concrete flexural elements, their The steel-reinforced concrete beam (V01) was designed according
tensile strength, bond properties, and elastic modulus are the to the Brazilian code NBR 6118:2003 [7]. Three GFRP-reinforced
main mechanical properties that govern the structural behavior concrete beams (V02, V03, and V05) were designed to have an
of these elements. internal ultimate tensile force (Agfu) equal to the yield strength (Asfy)

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 D. H. TAVARES | J. S. GIONGO | P. PAULTRE

of specimen V01, where Ag and fu are the total cross-sectional area cording to the corresponding Brazilian code: NBR 5739:1994 [5]
and ultimate strength of the GFRP longitudinal reinforcement, and for compressive strength, NBR 7222:1983 [6] for tensile strength
As and fy are the total cross-sectional area and the yield strength (split cylinder test), and NBR 8522:1983 [3] for elastic modulus.
of the steel longitudinal reinforcement, respectively. The other two All the concrete mixtures were defined as 1:2.8:3.8, with a wa-
GFRP-reinforced concrete beams (V04 and V06) were designed ter/cement ratio of 0.58 and 315 kg/m3 cement content. Table [1]
to have the same tensile force as specimen V01 but with a similar shows the typical properties (strength, corresponding strain, elas-
tensile limit strain of 10  mm/m [1]. This limit strain is defined in tic modulus) of the three concrete mixtures used in the experimen-
NBR 6118:2003 [7] as the ultimate strain of the reinforcement steel tal study. Table [1] shows that, although the testing age of the first
bars. Thus, the test program’s objective is to examine the behavior (V01, V05) and second concrete mixtures (V02, V06) was slightly
of GFRP-reinforced concrete beams designed in terms of ultimate higher (35 days and 28 days, respectively) than the third mixture
(ELU in NBR 6118:2003 [7]) and serviceability limit states (ELS in (V03, V04 – 14 days), the concrete properties of the three mixtures
NBR 6118:2003 [7]), corresponding to specimens V02, V03, and were comparable.
V05 (set 1) and to specimens V04 and V06 (set 2), respectively.
The main variables of the specimens were the diameter and an- 2.1.2 Steel reinforcement
chorage of the longitudinal bars. Two 9.5-mm-diameter bars were
used for specimens V02 and V05, five 6.35-mm-diameter bars were Steel reinforcement tensile strength was determined according
used for specimen V03, and two layers of three 9.5-mm-diameter to Brazilian code NBR 6349:1991 [4]. Three tensile tests were
and three 6.35-mm-diameter bars were used for specimens V04 made for each bar diameter: longitudinal tensile reinforcement
and V06 (Figure [1]). The longitudinal bars in specimens V05 and (12.5 mm), longitudinal compression reinforcement (6.35 mm), and
V06 were straight, while the longitudinal bars in specimens V02, stirrups bars (8 mm).
V03, and V04 terminated with hooks (200 mm in length). The steel tensile tests showed that the larger the bar diameter, the
Beam reinforcement was determined based on the ACI 440 [1] and more distinct the yield plateau of the steel’s stress-strain behavior.
[2] and the fib 9.3 task group [12]. The procedure can be found Table [2] shows the characteristic properties of the steel bars used
elsewhere (Tavares [17] and [18]). in the experimental study.

2.1 Materials Properties 2.1.3 GFRP reinforcement

2.1.1 Concrete GFRP reinforcement tensile

tests were conducted at the
The designed concrete strength EESC laboratory, but the results
was fcj=40  MPa and was de- were inconclusive. Further tests
termined using the methods of are needed in order to establish
Helene and Terzian [13]. The the proper test procedure at the
concrete beams were cast from EESC laboratory. Therefore, the
three concrete mixtures. For main properties of the GFRP
each mixture, six 100×200- bars (9 mm and 6 mm) used in
mm cylinders were cast. Four the test program were provided
of these cylinders were used by the manufacturer. Table [3]
to determine the compressive shows these properties (provid-
strength and the elastic modu- ed by the manufacturer, Hughes
lus; two cylinders were used to Brothers, Inc. [14]). GFRP bars
determine the tensile strength. have a characteristic linear-
The tests were carried out ac- elastic behavior up to failure.

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Behavior of reinforced concrete beams reinforced with GFRP bars

2.2 Test setup and instrumentation flexural behavior of the steel and the GFRP-reinforced con-
crete beams. The test setup is presented in Figure [3] (for
The specimens were basically constructed as follows (Figure further information see Takeya [16]). Neoprene layers were
[2]): construction of the wood framework, construction of the placed on each support and the forces were manually ap-
reinforcement cage, placement of the reinforcement cage, and plied by a hydraulic system and jacks. Longitudinal steel
casting, curing, and transporting the concrete for storage until strains were measured by electrical resistance strain gages;
the time of testing. Due to lack of experience, the application of their locations in the specimens can be seen in Figure [1];
the unconventional GFRP bars was not trivial. The main prob- each monitored bar had three strain gages: at the center and
lem found concerns the weight of the steel stirrups, which was both ends of the bars. The displacements at the mid-span
relatively high and induced a small deformation of the GFRP and at the supports were measured using linear variable dif-
bars prior to casting of the specimens. ferential transformers (LVDTs). The LVDTs were located as
Four-point bending tests were conducted to examine the shown in Figure [4].

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2.3 Moment-curvature predictions 2 – The nonlinear stress-strain relationship for the concrete,
including confinement effects in compression and tension.
The complete moment-curvature response of a section was calculat- 3 – Changes in section geometry due to progressive spalling of
ed with the WMNPhi [15] program, which accounts for the following: the concrete cover at higher strains.
1 – The complete stress-strain relationship of the steel 4 – Nonlinear strain distribution in flanged sections.
and CFRP bars, including strain-hardening. The WMNPhi program is based on idealized stress-strain rela-

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Behavior of reinforced concrete beams reinforced with GFRP bars

tionships for the materials and ensures compatibility of strains 2 – Assume the value of the depth to the neutral axis.
and equilibrium of forces. In order to predict the response, the 3 – Compute all stress resultants in the concrete and steel or
cross-section of a member is divided into a number of concrete GFRP for the assumed strain distribution and accounting for
strips, each divided into confined and unconfined portions. This concrete-cover spalling.
makes it possible to model the beneficial effects of confine- 4 – Iterate on the depth to the neutral axis until equilibrium
ment in the confined region of each strip. Concrete is assumed is satisfied to a specified accuracy.
to spall at a strain of -0.004, but it can be set independently. 5 – Calculate the resultant moment, axial load, and curvature.
As shown in Figure [5]f, the compressive stress-strain relation- 6 – Increment the top fiber strain and repeat steps 2 to 5.
ship of the concrete depends on the degree of confinement. The moment-curvature curves for the specimens were obtained
The steel or GFRP bars are modeled as concentrated areas with WMNPhi. Four different models were used: one for the
located at the appropriate positions in the cross-section. The steel-reinforced beam (V01) and three for the GFRP-reinforced
stress-strain for steel bars includes strain hardening, while it beams (V02/V05, V03, and V04/V06). The stress-strain behav-
is linear for the GFRP bars. The effect of tension stiffening in ior of the steel was defined with strain-hardening. The compos-
the concrete after cracking is accounted for in specified con- ite rebar stress-strain behavior was linear up to ultimate stress.
crete layers. The average tensile stress in the concrete after The peak stress and corresponding strain of the concrete were
cracking is as given by Vecchio and Collins [19] and is shown defined by the cylinder tests; the concrete stress-strain curve
in Figure [5]g. In addition, WMNPhi incorporates stress-strain used was parabolic for compression and followed the Vechio &
relationships that include bilinear elastoplastic, trilinear, and Collins stress-strain curve in tension. Tension stiffening in the
inverse Ramberg-Osgood relationships for modeling highly concrete was considered. The stiffened area was defined with a
curved stress-strain relationships. height of 110 mm from the bottom tension fiber. This height was
The analysis procedure is as follows: found using a combination of the procedures from the CEB/FIP
1 – Assume a top fiber strain. MC90 [10] Equation [1] and CEB/FIP 1978 [9] Equation [2]:

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 D. H. TAVARES | J. S. GIONGO | P. PAULTRE

where ϕ j is the curvature corresponding to the moment at the co-

ordinate x j . If this procedure is repeated for a large number of
moment points, the force-displacement curve can be defined. The
moment values were calculated for each step of the experimental
applied forces.

3. Results and discussions

Figure [7] shows the experimental force versus longitudinal rein-
forcement strain curves for the six specimens. The reported aver-
age longitudinal tensile strains were taken from the average of the
strain gages placed at the lowest reinforcement layer of the beam
Where: cross-section and the force presented is the resultant of the two
c = concrete cover applied loads. Specimen flexural failure was due to concrete com-
d l = lateral reinforcement diameter pressive crushing (specimens V01 after steel yielding, V04 and
d b = longitudinal reinforcement diameter V06) or to the rupture of the GFRP bars (GFRP-reinforced beams,
Even though these procedures are applied for steel-reinforced con- V02, V03, and V05). These behaviors can also be detected from
crete beams, Ferracuti and Savoia [11] and Bischoff and Paixao [8] the curves in Figure [7].
showed that they can also be applied to FRP-reinforced beams. Concrete cracking was identified in all specimens at a load level
of about 20 kN, after which the steel reinforcement maintains an
2.3.1 Analytical force-displacement curves almost linear strain increase until yielding. Figure [7] shows that
the strains at failure in the GFRP bars are greater than the strain
In order to verify if the curves obtained in WMNPhi agreed well with obtained in the steel reinforcement bars in the control beam. It is
the experimental results, the analytical force–displacement curves furthermore important to point out the high deformation capacity of
were calculated as detailed below. the GFRP bars, which reached the limit of 10 mm/m strain (given
For a reinforced concrete beam, the midspan deflections can be
obtained after defining the moment-curvature relationship from the
section layer-by-layer analysis. Figure [6] describes this proce-
dure. Due to symmetry, the calculations were made on only half of
the beam. The part of the beam with a linear variation of moment
(between the support and the applied load) was divided into 9 ele-
ments, each having a width of 0.10 m. One element was used in
the pure moment region. The reactions at both ends of the beam
can be expressed as:

It was also possible to determine the moments all along the ele-
ment by the relation:

where x j is the coordinate of the section from the support. Each

value of moment has a corresponding curvature value from the
moment-curvature curve, so, by interpolation, it was possible to
describe the element curvature. The midspan displacement can
be calculated as:

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Behavior of reinforced concrete beams reinforced with GFRP bars

by NBR 6118:2003 for steel reinforcement) before the failure de- less cracking than that developed in the GFRP-reinforced beams.
formation. Moreover, the number of bars is definitely one variable to be taken
Another important aspect of the experimental test results is the into account in controlling the concrete cracking. Figure [8]b and
crack pattern of the concrete beams, as shown in Figure [8]. The Figure [8]c show the crack patterns of the specimens reinforced
cracks pattern in the steel-reinforced beam (Figure [8]a), shows with 2 (V02 and V05) and with 5 (V03) longitudinal GFRP bars.

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 D. H. TAVARES | J. S. GIONGO | P. PAULTRE

Besides their close reinforcement area values, the number of rein- strength and elastic modulus), it was possible to analytically deter-
forcement bars plays an important role controlling the cracks distri- mine the moment–curvature curves of the beam specimens.
bution. The beams designed with smaller diameter reinforcement Figure [9] describes the moment-curvature curves obtained from
GFRP bars (V04 and V06) showed a pattern of smaller and more WMNPhi for the six specimens. Note that the curve for the steel-re-
distributed cracks along the elements (Figure [8]d). inforced concrete beam was derived from two analyses to account
for the concrete tension stiffening effect up to the longitudinal steel
3.1 Moment – curvature curves yielding (see Figure [9]). Figure [9] shows that the main parameter
controlling the behavior of the reinforced concrete beams is the
Although the force–displacement behavior of the beams was experi- longitudinal reinforcement stiffness, EA. The specimens designed
mentally measured, the beam moment–curvature curves could not in terms of serviceability limit state (V04, and V06) achieved the
be derived. Therefore, an analysis was conducted using the WMN- flexural capacity of the steel-reinforced concrete beam at a lower
Phi (Paultre [15]) computer program with a layer-by-layer analysis. curvature than the specimens designed in terms of ultimate limit
Using the material properties obtained from standard tests (concrete state (V02, V03, and V05).
tensile and compressive strength and elastic modulus; steel tensile The objectives of the GFRP specimens were partially reached. The
GFRP-reinforced beams that were designed in terms of ultimate
limit state failed to reach a flexural capacity similar to that of the
steel-reinforced beam (42.43 kNm). The experimental results show
that specimens V02, V03, and V05 achieved maximum capacity of
27.23 kNm, 31.58 kNm, and 31.17 kNm.
Although it is clear that the design procedures used in this project were
not able to ensure a determined flexural capacity, it is also known that
elements reinforced with GFRP bars are more likely to be designed
for serviceability limit state instead of ultimate limit state.

3.2 Force-displacement analytical curves

To compare the experimental with the analytical results, the ana-

lytical moment–curvature curves were integrated to give force–dis-
placement response curves. Figure [10] describes the analytical
and the experimental results.
The values obtained from WMNPhi are more conservative than
those obtained from the experimental tests. Although the experi-
mental and analytical results are not identical, they agree suffi-
ciently well to confirm reliable reproduction of the behavior of the
GFRP-reinforced concrete specimens with WMNPhi.

4. Conclusions
This paper presents experimental study performed at the EESC
to investigate the flexural behavior of GFRP-reinforced concrete
beams. The results show that the relatively low modulus of elastic-

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Behavior of reinforced concrete beams reinforced with GFRP bars

ity and the high GFRP rupture strain are the main variables that beams compared to the steel-reinforced concrete beams. It has
influence the flexural behavior of the GFRP-reinforced concrete been shown that controlling the reinforcement stiffness and the
beams. Besides, the difference in the material stress-strain behav- maximum internal tension force can yield an appropriate flexural
ior of the elastic-plastic steel and the linear-elastic GFRP results behavior of the GFRP-reinforced concrete beams.
in a different overall behavior of the GFRP-reinforced concrete Due to the sudden failure defined by the rupture of the GFRP

294 IBRACON Structures and Materials Journal • 2008 • vol. 1 • nº 3

 D. H. TAVARES | J. S. GIONGO | P. PAULTRE

bars, the ACI 440.1R committee (2003) [2] has already suggested [11] Ferracuti B. and Savoia M. (2005) Tension –
forcing the concrete crushing failure by designing over-reinforced Stiffening Law For FRP – Reinforced Concrete
GFRP-reinforced concrete elements. Elements under Service Loadings. Proceedings
For the purpose of designing GFRP-reinforced concrete elements, of the International Symposium on Bond Behaviour of
most of the available design codes have adapted the design prin- FRP in Structures (BBFS 2005) at 2005 International
ciples for steel-reinforced concrete, which are mostly based on Institute for FRP in Construction pages 221-228.
ultimate limit state, followed by a verification of serviceability limit [12] Fib Task Group 9.3. FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymer)
state. This study shows that it is more appropriate to design GFRP- Reinforcement for Concrete Structures (draft).
reinforced concrete beams based on the combination of service- [13] Helene, P/ R.L. & Terzian, P. R. (1993). Manual de
ability and ultimate limit states. Dosagem e Controle do Concreto. 1ª reimpressão
This project is one of several studies needed to provide the Brazil- (maio 95). São Paulo, PINI / SENAI.
ian construction industry with a new reliable structural reinforce- [14] Hughes Bros. Inc. (2001). Mechanical Properties of
ment material. These studies will have to focus on enhancing GFRP rebar. Seward, NE. http://www.hughesbros.com
design procedures to achieve better flexural behavior of GFRP-re- [15] Paultre, P. (2001). WMNPHI -- A program for
inforced concrete based on serviceability and ultimate limit states. sectional analysis of structural concrete -- User
Moreover, more research studies are needed to investigate the ef- manual, Centre de recherche en génie parasismique
fect of shear and bonding stresses on the behavior of the GFRP- et en dynamique des structures, Université de
reinforced elements. Another issue to be examined is the use of Sherbrooke, QC, Canada, Report CRGP-2001/01.
GFRP bars in prestressed elements. [16] Takeya, T. (2000). Exemplo de ensaio de uma viga de
concreto armado simplesmente apoiada. EESC-USP.
5. References [17] Tavares, D. H. (2006). Análise teórica e experimental
de vigas de concreto armadas com barras não
[01] American Concrete Institute (1996) ACI Committee metálicas de GFRP. Dissertação de Mestrado.
440R State-of-Report on Fiber Reinforced Plastic EESC – USP, São Carlos.
(FRP) Reinforcement for Concrete Structures. [18] Tavares, D. H., Ferreira O. P., and Giongo J.
[02] American Concrete Institute (2003). ACI Committee S. (2006). Propriedades e dimensionamento de
440.1R Guide for the Design and Construction of estruturas de concreto armadas com barras não
Concrete Reinforced with FRP Bars. metálicas de GFRP. IBRACON, 48ºCBC.
[03] Associação Brasileira De Norma Técnicas (1984). Rio de Janeiro.
NBR 8522:1884 – Concreto – Determinação do [19] Vecchio, F.J. and Collins, M.P., The modified
módulo de deformação estática e diagrama tensão compression field theory for reinforced concrete
deformação – Método de ensaio. Rio de Janeiro. elements subjected to shear, ACI Journal,
[04] Associação Brasileira De Norma Técnicas (1991). Proceedings, V. 83, No. 2, March–April 1986, 219–231.
NBR 6349:1991 – Fios, barras e cordoalhas de aço
para armaduras de protensão – Ensaio de tração –
Método de ensaio. Rio de Janeiro.
[05] Associação Brasileira De Norma Técnicas (1994).
NBR 5739:1994 – Concreto – Ensaio de compressão
de corpos-de-prova cilíndricos – Método de ensaio.
Rio de Janeiro.
[06] Associação Brasileira De Norma Técnicas (1994).
NBR 7222:2003 – Argamassa e concreto –
Determinação da resistência à tração por
compressão diametral de corpos-de-prova cilíndricos
– Método de ensaio. Rio de Janeiro.
[07] Associação Brasileira De Norma Técnicas (2003).
NBR 6118:2003 – Projeto de estruturas de concreto.
Rio de Janeiro.
[08] Bischoff, P. H. and Paixao R. (2004) Tension stiffening
and cracking of concrete reinforced with glass fiber
reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. Canadian Journal
of Civil Engineering - number 31: pages 579–588.
[09] CEB-FIP, Model Code 1978 for Concrete Structures:
CEB-FIP International recommendations 3rd edition,
Comité Euro-International du Béton, Paris, France, 1978.
[10] CEB-FIP, Model Code 1990 for Concrete Structures:
CEB-FIP International recommendations,
Comité Euro-International du Béton, Lausanne,
Switzerland, 1993.

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