Theoretical predictions of bending and shear capacity of continuously supported beams reinforced with longitudinal GFRP reinforcements.

The use of Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars as an alternative to steel reinforcements in concrete structures has significantly increased over recent decades. One of the reasons is the high corrodibility of steel, which leads to the degradation of concrete structures. Continuous concrete beams are extensively used elements in structures such as parking garages and overpasses, which are exposed to extreme weather conditions and the application of de-icing salts. Therefore, the use of FRP bars in these types of structures has become a feasible alternative to overcome steel-corrosion problems. This paper presents an analytical study of the bending behaviour of continuously supported beams reinforced with locally accessible longitudinal Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars. The cross-section analysis of GFRP reinforced concrete (RC) member is based on the cross-section analysis of concrete member reinforced with conventional steel with application of special assumptions for GFRP RC. Due to the linear-elastic behaviour up to the failure of the FRP materials, the ability of GFRP reinforcement to redistribute loads and moments in continuous beams is questionable. As the reinforcement configuration plays an important role in the moment redistribution, precise theoretical prediction of the bending and shear capacity is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]