CRACKING BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE BEAMS REINFORCED WITH FIBER-REINFORCED PLASTIC REBARS

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on th e cracking behaviour of concrete beams reinforced with fiber reinforce d plastic rebars. The effects of reinforcement ratio on the cracking p attern, crack spacing, cracking moment, and crack width are investigat ed. The test results indicate that the reinforcement ratio has no mean ingful effect on the cracking moment, which can be calculated as recom mended by the ACI code. Also, the use of the equations adopted by ACI and the European codes for the prediction of crack width of convention ally reinforced concrete members is investigated and due modifications are made. Both relationships show good correlation with the test resu lts; and the prediction of crack width of concrete beams reinforced wi th these two types of fiber reinforced plastic rebars is now possible.