The Response of Reinforced Concrete Composite Beams Reinforced with Pultruded GFRP to Repeated Loads

Abstract

This paper investigates the experimental response of composite reinforced concrete with GFRP and steel I-sections under limited cycles of repeated load. The practical work included testing four beams. A reference beam, two composite beams with pultruded GFRP I-sections, and a composite beam with a steel I-beam were subjected to repeated loading. The repeated loading test started by loading gradually up to a maximum of 75% of the ultimate static failure load for five loading and unloading cycles. After that, the specimens were reloaded gradually until failure. All test specimens were tested under a three-point load. Experimental results showed that the ductility index increased for the composite beams relative to the reference specimen by 156.2% for a composite beam with GFRP with shear connectors, 148.6% for composite beams with GFRP without connectors, and 96% for the composite beam with a steel I-section.