BFRP Bars as an Alternative Reinforcement of Concrete Structures - Compatibility and Adhesion Issues

Abstract

One of the most common causes of damage to concrete structures is the corrosion of the reinforcement. Reinforcement made from Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) is considered as an attractive substitution of traditional steel reinforcement. A different technical characteristic of fiber reinforced polymer makes designing structures with FRP reinforcement differs from conventional reinforced concrete design. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the differences and limitations of their use in the concrete structures, taking into account their material and geometrical features. Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) is a relatively new material for reinforcing bars. On the basis of the ACI 440.1R-06 guidelines as well as experimental results for selected BFRP reinforced beams a model of compatibility in a system: BFRP bar - concrete was proposed. Additionally, based on the results of FEM simulations, the effect of BFRP bars ribbing on their adhesion to concrete was discussed.