Manufacture, testing and numerical analysis of an innovative polymer composite/concrete structural unit

Abstract

A novel advanced composite/concrete duplex beam was manufactured, tested and numerically analyzed. The beam was manufactured using an optimized low-temperature cure vacuum process prepeg technology with pre-impregnated carbon and glass fiber composites. The basic components of the beam consist of a concrete section in the compressive region, a glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite sandwich foam core web section and a GFRP flange interleaved with high-strength unidirectional carbon fiber tape. A four-point bending test and a numerical finite element analysis were also conducted.