Bond Stress-Slip Behavior: Case of GFRP Bars in Geopolymer Concrete

Abstract

The use of geopolymer concrete reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars is anticipated to address the concerns on the usage of traditional reinforced concrete structures, such as the corrosion of internal steel reinforcement, costly repair and rehabilitation, and development of sustainable infrastructures. To gain wide acceptance in the construction market, the bond between geopolymer concrete and the FRP bar should be investigated first because it is a critical factor that influences the behavior of structures, specifically its strength and long-term durability. In this study, the bond performance of sand-coated glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars into geopolymer concrete with a compressive strength of 33 MPa was investigated under a direct pullout test. The effects of parameters such as bar diameter (12.7, 15.9, and 19.0 mm) and embedment length (5, 10, and 15