Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bars for Concrete Structures: State-of-the-Practice in Australia

Abstract

The harsh Australian environment makes the use of steel reinforcement in concrete structures problematic on account of corrosion. The probability of corrosion damage will significantly increase in the years to come and will become a major problem not only in coastal regions but also in inland parts of Australia due to increasing carbon dioxide concentration, temperature, and relative humidity as a consequence of climate change. In the last two decades, glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite bars have become an alternative to steel reinforcement for reinforcing concrete structures exposed to harsh environments. The reinforcing material is noncorrodible, nonmagnetic, lightweight, and has high tensile strength, thus making it a viable reinforcing material for concrete structures. This paper provides the state-of-the-practice in the research, development, and application of GFRP bars, with the aim of properly informing the engineering community about this alternative, noncorrodible reinforcing technology. The paper also presents a strategy toward the development of fiber-reinforced polymer bar material specifications with the aim to ensure quality use and application of the GFRP material in a wide range of applications in Australia in the years to come. Moreover, the best practices and data presented in this paper will be very useful in the development of unified international standards and specifications for GFRP bars.