ABSTRACT
Abstract Fiber reinforced plastics rods (FRP rods) as reinforcement in concrete members are subjected to a combination of tensile and shear forces at crack intersections and their bent portions. The shear force reduces the tensile capacity of the FRP rod. In this study the reduced tensile strengths were observed in experiments of FRP rods at a crack intersection and their bent portion. The experimental results were compared with the results of finite element analyses. The finite element analyses could predict the strength reduction and explain why the strength was reduced. Some important factors for the strength reduction were presented. Keywords: Failure criteria, FRP rod, reinforcement
1 Introduction
Recently continuous fiber cemented with plastics (CFCP) has shown a great potential for use as reinforcement in concrete structures because it is light, anticorrosive and antimagnetic. In CFCP used as reinforcement the fibers are placed in one direction where tensile force is supposed to work. CFCP is usually strong and stiff in the direction of the fiber but not in other directions. Previous experimental evidences indicate that the tensile strength of CFCP is greatly reduced under a combination of tensile and shear forces. Since reinforcement in concrete members is subjected to not only tensile forces but also shear forces at a crack intersection and its bent portion, fracture of CFCP was found in the experiment.
