Advance Reinforced Concrete CSE519 Hon Tik 22002522G

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

CSE 519 – ADVANCED REINFORCED CONCRETE

Semester 1, 2022/23

Assignment Topic

Investigate the types and mechanical properties of FRP

reinforcement and compare them with traditional steel
reinforcements.

Student Name: Hon Tik

Student ID: 22002522G

Submission date:         29/09/2022

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Advance Reinforced Concrete CSE519 Hon Tik 22002522G

Content

1. Introduction

2. Characteristics of FRP rebars

2.1 Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP)

2.2 Aramid Fiber Reinforced Polymer (AFRP)

2.3 Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)

2.4 Summary

3. Comparison between Steel Reinforcement and FRP

reinforcement

3.1 Corrosion resistant

3.2 Structural Performance

3.3 Strength-to-Weight Ratio

4. Current GFRP used in structures (Case study)

4.1 Wotton Bridge

5. Conclusion

6. Reference

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Fibre reinforced polymer and steel rebar comparative

performance.

1. INTRODUCTION

It is well-known that the combination of steel and concrete for reinforcement structure is the ideal
materials to complement each other due to the adorable compressive strength of concrete and
tensile strength of steel. It can resist many types of loading while they work together. Steel rebar has
already been applied as the primary reinforcing material in concrete for almost a century because of

the irreplaceable position with regards to the high performance of its strength and durability.

However, steel has its weakness. Under the unfavourable condition, red rust can be occurred by
oxidation and corrosion due to the exposure of steel structures to the external environment. In
addition, because of its heavy weight and cannot be easily to handle ,which the rebar is difficult to
bent into the range of shapes, the industry is looking for a material that could replace it.

Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) rebar has favourable properties which compare with the primary
reinforcement within concrete structures. In contrast to a steel bar specimen of the same diameter
and length, FRP rebar have a list of outstanding performance, especially on their high strength to
weight ratio, toughness, resistance to harsh corrosive condition and safety merit due to their low
weight and low maintenance requirement. In the future, FRP rebar may challenge the steel rebar’s
monopoly as a reinforcement material.

This paper will examine the types, the relative merits & performance between various type of FRP
rebar and steel rebar.

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2. Characteristics of FRP rebars

Recently, composite materials made of fibre embedded in a polymeric resin, also known as fibre-
reinforced polymers, have become an alternative to steel reinforcement for concrete structures.
Aramid fibre reinforced polymer (AFRP), carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP), and glass fibre
reinforced polymer (GFRP) rods are the commercially available products for the construction
industry. They have been widely proposed for use in steel reinforcement or steel pre-stressing
tendons in concrete structures in US and Canada. According to the Guide for the Code, Design and
Construction of Structural Concrete Reinforced with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Bars (ACI
440R 2000) which is proposed US American Concrete Institute, it clearly identifies the design and
application in various condition in concrete for bridges and buildings. The problems of steel corrosion
are avoided with the use of FRPs because FRP materials are extremely light-weight, non-metallic
and noncorrosive. In addition, FRP materials exhibit several properties including high tensile
strength, that make them suitable for the use as structural reinforcement.

2.1 Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP)

Glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) is composed of a polymer plastic matrix with embedded glass
fibres. The polymer for GFRP rebar usually consists of a vinyl ester, epoxy or polyester
thermosetting plastic. GFRP is the most widely used fibre material in civil engineering applications
due to the lower costs compared to CFRP and AFRP. Although CFRP has the most favourable
properties regarding with the high strength and stiffness, GFRP has significantly better material
properties than conventional materials, which it can be the better choice in civil construction.

GFRP can be divided into four sectors, S-glass, T-glass, E-glass, and C-glass. All of them has
varying properties and can be used in different situations. S-glass has a higher strength than its
counterparts, hence the high tensile strength values of GFRP (Table 1), T-glass has thermal
resisting properties, E-glass is an electrical insulation material, and C-glass is resistant towards
chemical attacks (Potyrala, 2011; Niroumand, 2009). However, only S-glass and E-glass is
commonly adopted on infrastructure uses since both S-Glass and E-glass provides a favourable
manufacturing costs.

Compared with other fibre materials, GFRP has certain drawbacks which limit its use. GFRP is
sensitive to moisture and alkaline attacks, which may accumulate of micro cracks and lowering the

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overall strength of the structure. Another disadvantage is the lower E-modulus that generally results
in larger deflections than other fiber materials; this combined with a low resistance towards fatigue
can create a problem when dynamic loads are occurring although GFRP is still a lot better than steel
reinforcement. (Potyrala, 2011; Niroumand, 2009)

For dealing with the smooth GFRP properties with RC, the inclusion of coarse sand fully covered
around the GFRP surfaces can increase the bond strength of rebars with concrete. It can promote
the GFRP RC flexural strength and strain from 76-81% to 78-83% and

Figure 1: Section of (GFRP) and Sand coated GFRP.

2.2 Aramid Fiber Reinforced Polymer (AFRP)

In comparison to GFRP, the outstanding material properties of AFRP are high tensile strength,
nearly 40% lower density, and high elastic modulus. Unlike CFRP, AFRP has a lower production
cost and better resistance towards mechanical impacts. It usually uses in constructions where the

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demands for resistance towards saltwater environments and dynamic loads are required. Refer to
table 1, it can be seen that AFRP open the possibility for lightweight constructions due to their low
density (Potyrala, 2011; Masuelli, 2013). In comparison to CFRP, AFRP has certain disadvantages,
which limits its use in civil engineering applications. For example, AFRP have low material properties
for withstanding compression and UV-radiation (Potyrala, 2011; Friberg & Olsson, 2014). The price
of AFRP is higher than GFRP. However, the material costs are lower than that of CFRP. Another
downside is the ability to withstand creep under long-term loads. Due to these widespread
drawbacks and their difficulty to manage, AFRP are less commonly used in civil engineering
(Potyrala, 2011; Niroumand, 2009)

Figure 2: Section of Aramid fibre-reinforced polymer (AFRP)

2.3 Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)

Compared to other fibre composites, especially GFRP, CFRP is the best preforming material
regarding mechanical and durability properties, kindly refer table 1 for the data (Potyrala, 2011).
High-strength and High-stiffness are the two major types of carbon fiber used. They can be used
depending on the requirements. Unlike GFRP, DFRP has higher resistance towards fatigue & higher
elastic modulus making the material stronger and less prone to deflection under long-term and
dynamic loads on the structure (Niroumand, 2009). In the sector of durability, CFRP has better
properties for withstanding the effects from surrounding environments and increases the structures
lifetime compared to other fibre.

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CFRP is not a material without its downsides; the complex manufacturing process of carbon fib re
resulting in a higher cost than other fibre materials. The inability of CFRP might not withstand
mechanical impacts, which always occur in civil engineering applications such as a bridge
construction. Although there are a various of abovementioned drawbacks, CFRP is essential on the
condition of higher strength and stiffness. Last but not least, CFRP has a lower density than other
fiber materials, which is preferable when a more lightweight construction is needed (Potyrala, 2011).

Figure 3: Section of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP).

2.4 Summary

The mechanical properties of the composite are mainly provided by the fibre-reinforcement in the
material, which can vary depending on the fibre type (Table 1). The fibre provides the load carrying
capability and stiffness of the structure as well as thermal resistance of the material (Potyrala, 2011;
Masuelli, 2013). To enable these properties a composite needs to contain a considerable amount of
fiber reinforcements, which can be up to 70 % of the composite volume (Budinski & Budinski, 2005).
The mechanical properties can vary depending on the orientation of the fibers, which can be
arranged to maximize for instance the stiffness of the structure in a desired direction (Potyrala, 2011;
Masuelli, 2013).

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Table 1: Properties of different fibers (Potyrala, 2011; Niroumand, 2009)

3. Comparison between Steel Reinforcement and FRP reinforcement

As mentioned previously, GFRP is the most widely used fibre material in civil engineering
applications due to the economic point of view and moderate properties. In the following section will
discuss about the merit and downside between steel reinforcement and GFRP reinforcement.

3.1 Corrosion resistant

Corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete structures presents a major problem with regards to the
structural stability, maintenance, and lifecycle cost of a structure. Under normal circumstances, the
corrosion of steel rebar shall not be occurred by thick concrete cover except for the following
conditions.

Too little concrete cover allows the water to penetrate and react with steel rebars causing concrete to
crack. Afterwards, concrete aggregates react with steel causing concrete to spall. Moreover, steel
exposed to weather rusts and reduces the strength of reinforced concrete. When rusts start growth
around the steel rebars, it causes severe internal pressure on the surrounding concrete, leading to
cracks in concrete. (Kisicek, Soric & Galic, 2009) had reported that “If a reinforced concrete element
was placed in an aggressive environment, its deterioration due to corrosion of steel reinforcement
will start soon”.

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The use of FRP as reinforcement eliminates the problem of corrosion, due to non-metallic nature of
the polymers in FRP’s composition. It could against with severe conditions effectively, especially
chloride attacks. Hence, FRP as reinforcement could substantially enhance the corrosion resistance
for structures and durability in corrosive environments.

3.2 Structural Performance

The bond between concrete and GFRP reinforcing bars is one of the factors when GFRP is used as
reinforcement. The sufficient bond must be mobilized between reinforcement and concrete for the
successful transfer of forces from one to the other (Pilakoutas et al 2009:3). GFRP has substantially
greater bond strength to concrete than steel which makes GFRP-reinforced concrete more resistant
to cracking. In addition, crack tolerances in aqueous conditions are higher in GFRP structures (0.7

mm) than steel (0.4 mm) due to GFRP’s corrosion resistance (Leonhardt, 1988). As commented
previously, the inclusion of coarse sand which fully covered around the GFRP surfaces can promote
the bonding with RC effectively.

GFRP reinforcement can have more than double the tensile strength of steel; however, it has lower
flexural (bending) strength, lower yield strength and lower modulus of elasticity. This means GFRP
can tolerate greater levels of force than steel when used in situations that place the element in
tension such as at the bottom of a simply supported beam or the top of a cantilevered slab. However,
steel rebar will tolerate greater levels of elastic deflection than GFRP before yielding or permanent
deformation occurs. Steel is characterised by high ductility, which means it will deform plastically
before failure.

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Figure 4: The Stress strain curve of steel and GFRP (Shahad AbdulAdheem, 2018)

According to Fig 4, compare to steel, it can be seen that GFRP has an elastic behaviour and is not
ductile, which means it has better rupture point rather than a yield point. Moreover, GFRP has a
better ultimate strength than steel. These characteristic differences mean GFRP-reinforced concrete
is usually designed for concrete crushing failure while steel-reinforced concrete is typically designed
for yield failure.

3.3 Strength-to-Weight Ratio

In table 2, the density of GFRP rebar and steel rebar is 2100 kg/m3 and 7800kg/m3 respectively.

Meanwhile, the strength of GFRP is nearly 2 times than steel (Madewell Products, 2021). Hence,
GFRP is nearly 25% of the weight of steel without losing any strength, making it easy to transport
and handle by workers while reducing the dead weight of concrete structures. The total weight of the
structure can still be significantly reduced. Due to lower weight, FRP constructions require less
complicated or extensive framework/supporting structure, which also includes the foundation
supporting the bridge. In addition to lower weight, FRP composites have better mechanical
properties that allows for stronger constructions.

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Table 2: The Structural Performance of GFRP rebar & Steel rebar (Madewell Products, 2021)

3.4 Maintenance cost

The durability of steel rebar ultimately depends on the amount of concrete cover provided to keep it
protected in a stable, alkaline environment within the hardened concrete. Over time, CO2 and Cl− in
the air or water will penetrate into the pores of the concrete and reduce its alkalinity or pH level. In
the course of time, they will penetrate to the depth of the steel rebar and lower the pH level around
the steel, breaking down the protective ‘passivation’ layer that protects the steel from corrosion. The
design of a steel-reinforced concrete structure for a 100-year lifespan in coastal, saline, or otherwise
harsh conditions often requires specifying high concrete cover (well in excess of / exceeding the
structural requirement), applying a coating on the concrete, or adopting a cathodic prevention
system.

GFRP’s corrosion resistance eliminates carbon- and chloride-induced corrosion, removing the need
for excessive concrete cover, protective coatings or an expensive cathodic prevention system. As a
result, GFRP bar slightly reduces concrete consumption and substantially reduces whole-of-life asset
maintenance costs associated with steel-reinforced concrete structures. These characteristics make
GFRP most suitable and economical for harsh conditions and situations in which cracking and
corrosion are of greater priority than structural capacity. For example, in immersed conditions, splash
zones and coastal environments, around corrosive chemicals and salts, where subjected to high
levels of CO2, and for slabs-on-grade. On the face on it, GFRP reinforcement is particularly suitable
for bridge construction.

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Figure 5: Deterioration of concrete in the marine environment

In addition to a long service life, FRP composite constructions require little to no maintenance,
depending on the construction, which significantly lowers the operational costs. Furthermore, FRP
composites have higher tolerance towards material fatigue, which also lowers the requirements of
maintenance or reconstruction. However, FRP composite is sensible to UV-radiation. This suggest
that in a long-term perspective, FRP composites could be a cost saving and a sustainable alternative
to conventional materials.

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4. Current GFRP used in structures

Currently there is widespread use of GFRP bars as concrete reinforcement throughout the world.
Hundreds of structures have been built showcasing the potential for GFRP reinforcement to be used,
and extensive studies have been undertaken to determine the field performance of such structures.
Applications such as bridge decks, parking garages and marine structures have been built with
GFRP bars (El-Salakawy, Benmokrane, & Desgagne, 2003). However, it is no tall building structure
adopted by GFRP yet since GFRP reinforcement is still under study.

This has created the need to develop design procedures for the use of GFRP reinforcement. The
United States, Europe, Canada and Japan have developed their own design guidelines. In general,
these guidelines have evolved by making modifications to existing steel reinforced concrete codes
based on experimental testing of the material.

One case study bridges deck systems using GFRP reinforcement were examined to determine the
suitability of these structures in certain environments. Because of its light weight and non-corrosive
properties, GFRP reinforcement has become a more acceptable alternative for use in bridge decks
when compared to steel reinforcement. The existing high costs associated with construction with
GFRP reinforcement are expected to reduce should larger commercialisation of GFRP production
occur in future.

4.1 Wotton Bridge

Wotton Bridge, in Quebec, Canada, is a full-scale long term test comparing the performance of
GFRP and CFRP reinforcing bars to conventional steel reinforcing bars. The bridge was completed
in October 2001 and opened for traffic use. One half of the bridge has steel reinforcement, while the
other is reinforced with sand coated FRP composites, kindly refer to Figure 6. (Worner, 2015)

The bridge is composed of a single span of 30.6m supported on four reinforced concrete I-beams as
shown in figure 6. The deck has a slab depth of 0.2m and width of 10.3m. The design of the FRP
reinforcement followed the new Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (Mufti, et al., 2007) using
the GFRP rebar to replace the steel rebar.

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Figure 6: Plan view and Cross-section of Wotton Bridge.

Strain gauges have been installed at critical locations for the sake of the field performance of the
bridge. A field loading test was performed after construction of the bridge. A truck was placed
statically on the bridge to model six different paths, and then another was added in two cases to
achieve the worst case loading combination. Following the loading tests, the internal temperature
and the strain data of the bridge was monitored for a year. Figure 7 indicates deflection data
collection occurring as trucks are driven slowly across the bridge.

Test results showed that the FRP portion of the bridge deck behaved very well. Deflections were well
within the limits set by the Canadian code and maximum recorded strains for the static truck loading
were only 0.13% of the ultimate for FRP and just 4% for the service load over one year. Strain values
in the concrete due to truck loads were significantly lower than the predicted cracking strain (El-
Salakawy, Benmokrane, & Desgagne, 2003). Ongoing test data will be valuable to allow direct
comparison between steel and FRP reinforced bridge decks.

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Figure 7: Maximum tensile strains for GFRP, CFRP and steel

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5. Conclusion

Steel reinforcement is used to compensate for the low tensile strength of concrete. The bar is used in
various reinforced concrete members. Steel bars that are used to reinforce concrete structures do
not have high corrosion resistance and, in a corrosive environment, damages will occur in the
structure.

Compare to steel rebar, FRP rebar has durability and long life which can resistant to corrosion and
increases the strength of the structure. In a comparison between steel and FRP rebar, FRP bar is
much lighter than steel bar that the specific weight can decrease from 7800kg/m3 to 2100kg/m3.
Due to this low density, the cost of transport and displacement of FRP rebar is less. Also, the dead
load of the structure will be less than that of steel bars. One of the disadvantages of steel bars is
their low resistance against chemicals and corrosion, which reduces the resistance of concrete
sections. FRP rebar reinforce the structure and protect it from corrosion. The total prices of FRP
rebar is lower than that of steel bars.

In general, GFRP reinforcing bar has higher tensile strength and higher corrosion resistance than
steel rebar. In addition, moderate flexural strength, these properties make GFRP is good alternative
of steel in foundations application.

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6. Reference

Codes, design manuals and Guidelines. Buildings Department. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25,
2022, from https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/resources/codes-and-references/codes-and-design-
manuals/index.html

Fayed, K. (n.d.). FRP Bars vs. steel bars in concrete reinforcement - blogs. Albursa. Retrieved
September 25, 2022, from https://albursa.com/blogs/view/1-frp-bars-vs-steel-bars-in-concrete-
reinforcement

Fiber-reinforced polymer-strengthened/reinforced concrete structures exposed to fire: A Review.

Taylor & Francis. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2022, from
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2749/101686612X13363929517613

FRP rebar (AFRP, CFRP, GFRP) - purdue university. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2022, from
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=ectfs

FRP rebar (AFRP, CFRP, GFRP) - purdue university. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2022, from
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=ectfs

Home - basalt fibers. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2022, from https://basalt-fibers.com/wp-
content/uploads/2021/05/Standart_ACI-4401R15.pdf 3

Leonhardt, F. (1988). Cracks and Crack Control in Concrete Structures. Retrieved September 27,
2022, from
https://www.pci.org/PCI_Docs/Design_Resources/Guides_and_manuals/references/
bridge_design_manual/JL-88-July-
August_Cracks_and_Crack_Control_in_Concrete_Structures.pdf

The influence of working from home on employees' productivity - diva portal. (n.d.). Retrieved
September 24, 2022, from
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1446903/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Madewell Products. (2021, March 9). GFRP vs Steel Reinforcement: These are the differences.
Madewell Products. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from
https://www.madewellproducts.com/blogs/msb-form/gfrp-vs-steel

Niroumand, H. (2009). Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) in Civil, Structure & Geotechnical
Engineering. Seoul, International Institute for FRP in Constructiona for Asia-Pacific Region. 33
Offerman, C. (2014). Byggsektorn enig om LCA. Miljö & Utveckling, 13 6.

Polat, M., & Yağan, M. (n.d.). Mechanical properties and bond strength degradation of GFRP and
steel ... Retrieved September 24, 2022, from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326112777_Mechanical_properties_and_bond_stren
gth_degradation_of_GFRP_and_steel_rebars_at_elevated_temperatures

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Worner, V. J. (2015). Use of glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcing bars for ...
Use of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) reinforcing bars for concrete bridge
decks. Retrieved September 27, 2022, from
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/35472521.pdf

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