Performance of BFRP RC beams using high strength concrete

This research investigates the flexural behavior and serviceability performance of basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) reinforced concrete (RC) beams cast with normal- and high-strength concretes (NSC and HSC). Carbon FRP (CFRP) and steel-reinforced concrete beams were also included for comparison purposes. Four-point bending tests were performed on a total of 14 slender beams with dimensions of 180 mm × 230 mm × 2200 mm. The main aim was to examine the improvement in the performance of BFRP RC beams using HSC and to assess its compatibility with the recommendations and guidelines of the ACI440 Code. The test results were reported and discussed in terms of flexural capacity, deflection, crack width, reinforcement and concrete strains, and failure modes. The results revealed that the flexural capacities of BFRP beams were slightly underestimated by ACI440.1R-15 while reasonable predictions were observed for the cracking moments in HSC and NSC. The use of HSC as compared to NSC enhanced the cracking and ultimate moments of all BFRP RC beams by 10% and 16%, respectively. Furthermore, the average bond-coefficient (kb) value for BFRP-RC beams was found to be 0.70 which is much lower than the conservative kb value suggested by the ACI440 guidelines for sand-coated FRP bars.