3-DIMENSIONAL FIBER-REINFORCED PLASTIC GRATING CAGES FOR CONCRETE BEAMS - A PILOT-STUDY

An experimental and analytical study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of developing three-dimensional fiber-reinforced plastic ( FRP) grating cages to reinforce concrete members. Experimental FRP cag es, fabricated from ''off-the-shelf' commercially manufactured pultrud ed FRP profiles, were used to reinforce three concrete beams which wer e tested to failure. The performance of the FRP grating cage reinforce d beams was compared with that of a control beam reinforced with conve ntional steel rebars. The results of the testing are given and a derai led analysis of the failure modes of the FRP reinforced beams is provi ded. A simplified analyticai model is proposed to calculate the failur e load of the beams. A truss model is used to predict deflection at fa ilure. Predictions of the proposed models agree well with the experime ntal data. The construction practice potential of using the FRP gratin g cages is discussed. The pilot study indicates that the future develo pment of FRP grating cages for concrete reinforcement would appear to be warranted.