To develop design guidelines for bond of glass-fiber-reinforced plasti
c (GFRP) rebars to concrete, a total of 102 specimens were constructed
and tested subjected to monotonic static loading. The research progra
m was inclusive of the experimental testing of 48 beam specimens, 18 p
ull-out specimens, and 36 hooked rebar specimens. The tensile load was
applied to the rebars in a gradual increment of load level until spli
tting of concrete, rebar pull-out failure, or rebar fracture occurred.
The slip between the rebars and concrete was measured at the loaded a
nd free ends at each load level. Variables included in the study were
concrete compressive strength, embedment length, clear concrete cover,
rebar diameter, concrete cast depth, radius of bend, and tail length.
New criteria for acceptable bond performance of GFRP rebars to concre
te were developed and were used to evaluate the experimental results.
Design guidelines for calculating the development lengths for straight
and hooked GFRP rebars to concrete were derived. In addition, confine
ment factors were calculated to reflect the influence of concrete cove
r and casting position.