Feasibility Study on Thermoplastic FRP Rod to Rebar in Concrete

Abstract

Because deterioration due to chloride attack progresses in some reinforced concrete members, safety and security are threatened. As a countermeasure, high corrosion resistant rebars such as FRP rod, stainless steel rod, and epoxy coated rebar are used for a reinforcement for concrete. However, the conventional thermosetting FRP is disadvantageous due to its expensiveness, and it has not spread to widespread use. Therefore, the authors are working on mass production of thermoplastic FRP. If it will be developed, cost reduction may be expected. This research focuses on thermoplastic FRP, and evaluates the applicability to a reinforcement for concrete as a substitute for steel bar. That is, first, in order to confirm the basic performance for embedding in concrete, the influence of immersion in a high alkaline aqueous solution and water on the tensile strength of reinforcing bar itself is confirmed. Next, the adhesion strength between concrete and reinforcement bar is confirmed. Furthermore, a bending load test of concrete beam specimen with FRP rod is carried out and simultaneously FEM analytical is performed. As a result, it is clarified that the thermoplastic FRP rod may be applied to the reinforcement for concrete as a substitute for steel bar.