BOND STRENGTH OF GFRP BARS IN FIBER CONCRETE IN COASTAL ENVIRONMENT CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MEKONG DELTA

Abstract

Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) is considered an alternative to steel reinforcement in concrete structures in highly corrosive environments. The bond characteristics of GFRP bars in concrete is an important parameter that determines the feasibility of using this material with non-corrosive concrete. Thus, the paper presents the experimental results of the bond strength of GFRP bars in fiber concrete in a coastal environment characteristic of the Mekong Delta in the south of Vietnam. Research results within 2 years showed that the bond strength of GFRP bars in fiber concrete increased over time and gave a maximum value corresponding to 5.0% silica fume content. In this study, the correlation between the bond strength of control specimens that were cured in the laboratory and specimens that were cured in actual conditions was established. In addition, the experimental results also showed that the impacts of salty water and alum (pH, salinity, temperature, wet-dry cycle) had almost no effect on the bond strength of GFRP bars in fiber concrete. These environmental influences need to be investigated further.