INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL-MECHANICAL PARAMETERS ON ADHERENCE BETWEEN GFRP BARS AND CONCRETE

Abstract

The bond between concrete and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars is key to ensuring the joint performance of both materials, despite their distinct features and characteristics. This influences the load transmission mechanism between the concrete and the GFRP reinforcement, ensuring that relative slippage does not occur between the two materials. This research determines the influence of the parameters, concrete compressive strength, bar diameter, and concrete cover on the bond behavior between GFRP bars and concrete using numerical modeling techniques. A numerical model based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) implemented with the ABAQUS/CAE software and calibrated with experimental tests was developed. The parametric study obtained a regression equation that predicts the maximum bond strength, with a coefficient of determination R2 = 98.03%. A comparison is made between the obtained equation and expressions reported in different standards, and a statistical analysis is performed to evaluate the predictive quality of the regression equation and the expressions reported in the standards, in relation to the results of a database of experimental tests extracted from the literature. It is concluded that the parameters concrete compressive strength, bar diameter, and concrete cover significantly modify the bond strength between the FRP bars and the concrete.