Long-term performance of GFRP reinforcement : technical report.

Project 0-6069Significant research has been performed on glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) concrete reinforcement.This research has shown that GFRP reinforcement exhibits high strengths, is lightweight, can decrease time ofconstruction, and is corrosion resistant. Regarding the corrosion resistance, research has shown that the chemicalreactions that occur in GFRP bars do not result in expansive products\u2014products that can damage the concretesurrounding the reinforcement. Although not classical steel corrosion, much research that has been performedshows that GFRP reinforcing bars do corrode, reducing the tensile capacity of the GFRP reinforcing bars as afunction of time. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) recognized this and places a reduction factor on theallowable design strength of GFRP reinforcing bars. A drawback of the majority of the research is that GFRPreinforcing bars have typically been directly exposed to aggressive solutions, exposure conditions possibly notsimilar to the exposure they would encounter while embedded in concrete. Limited research has been performedevaluating the tensile capacity reduction of bars embedded in concrete; however, these bars were only exposed forrelatively short durations.This research investigated the characteristics of GFRP reinforcing bars embedded in concrete for 7 years andexposed to a mean annual temperature of 69 oF (23 oC) and an average precipitation of 39.7 inches (1008 mm),fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. Three manufacturers provided #5 and #6 bars for this research.Results indicate that GFRP reinforcing bars do exhibit reduced capacities when embedded in concrete. A modelwas developed to assess the tensile capacity of bars embedded in concrete. The model was based on a generaldiffusion model, where diffusion of water or ions penetrate the bar matrix and degrade the glass fibers. The modelis dependent on time, diffusion characteristics of the matrix material, and the radius of the GFRP reinforcing bar.The model indicates that GFRP reinforcement bars with larger diameters exhibit lower rates of capacity loss.However, the times required for the tensile capacity of the GFRP bars to drop below the ACI design requirementsfor #3, #5, and #6 bars were less than 6 years. Further research is needed to determine how this will affect thedesign of GFRP-reinforced concrete structures; however, consideration of changing the ACI design requirementmay be warranted