Time-Variant Strength Capacity Model for GFRP Bars Embedded in Concrete

Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) concrete reinforcement exhibits high strength, is lightweight, can decrease time of construction, and is corrosion resistant. However, research has shown that chemical reactions deteriorate the GFRP reinforcing bars over time, resulting in a reduced tensile capacity. This paper develops a time-variant probabilistic model to predict the tensile capacity of GFRP bars embedded in concrete. The developed model is probabilistic to properly account for the relevant sources of uncertainties, including the statistical uncertainty in the estimation of the unknown model parameters (because of the finite sample size), the model error associated with the inexact model form (e.g., a linear expression is used when the actual and unknown relations are nonlinear), and missing variables (i.e., the model only includes a subset of the variables that influence the quantity of interest.) The proposed model is based on a general diffusion model, in which water or ions penetrate the GFRP bar matrix and degrade the glass fiber-resin interface. The model indicates that GFRP reinforcement bars with larger diameters exhibit lower rates of capacity loss. The proposed probabilistic model is used to assess the probability of not meeting the tensile strength requirement based on specifications over time and can be used to assess the safety and performance of GFRP reinforced systems. Sensitivity and importance analyses are carried out to explore the effect of the parameters and random variables on the probability estimates.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EM.1943-7889.0000588
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07339399
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Copyright © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers
• Authors:
  • Gardoni, Paolo
  • Trejo, David
  • Kim, Young Hoon
• Publication Date: 2013-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 1435-1445
• Serial:
  • Journal of Engineering Mechanics
  • Volume: 139
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-9399
  • EISSN: 1943-7889
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jenmdt

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chemical reactions; Deterioration; Fiber reinforced polymers; Glass fiber reinforced concrete; Reinforced concrete; Tensile strength
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01494166
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ASCE
• Created Date: Sep 17 2013 4:33PM