Experimental Assessment of Carbon and Glass FRP Bent Bar Tensile Rupture Capacity
摘要
FRP bars are a viable alternative to internal steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete structures. However, unlike steel reinforcement, which is easily bent into various shapes in a fabrication plant, FRP bars must be produced in their desired shape as part of the pultrusion process during manufacturing. Further, when steel reinforcing bars are bent in accordance with limits prescribed in material specifications, the yield stress remains unchanged for design purposes. However, the bend region of FRP bars affects the alignment of the longitudinal fibers and distorts the intended circular cross-section. This results in a reduced tensile rupture capacity of the bar at the bend compared to the straight bar capacity of the same production lot. Due to the manufacturing process, the strength reduction varies as a function of the quality of the bend within a production lot. The extent of strength reduction also depends on the fiber material and bend geometry. Further, the current limit on the guaranteed ultimate tensile force of a bent portion of a Glass FRP bar in ASTM D7957/D7957M–22 may not apply to bent Carbon FRP bars. This research presents the results of bent bar tests for Carbon FRP spirals and Glass FRP stirrups. The bent bar test results are compared to the tensile rupture strength of companion straight bar samples. The reduction in capacity is compared for the different fiber types, bar sizes, and bend geometries. This research informs the development of realistic ultimate tensile strength limits for various bent FRP bars.