Experimental and Analytical Investigation of Shear Behavior and Strength of Haunched Beams Reinforced with Basalt Fiber–Reinforced Polymer Rebars

Abstract

Tapered beams are characterized by varying moments of inertia along their span, commonly the pier cap configuration used in bridge construction. This study presents the shear behavior of tapered beams reinforced with basalt fiber–reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars through experiments and analyses. Eight BFRP beams were tested to explore the influence of changing inclination angles and the presence of BFRP stirrups. These beams were divided into two groups, each consisting of four beams: one control straight beam and three tapered beams with different tapered angles. The first group was without shear reinforcement, while the second group was reinforced with BFRP stirrups. Results revealed that increasing tapered angles decreased the shear strength of BFRP tapered beams without stirrups but increased it in beams with BFRP stirrups. The analytical part proposed equations to estimate the shear strength of BFRP tapered beams, with findings indicating conservative estimations consistent with experimental data trends.