Review of

“Shear Tests of FRP-Reinforced Concrete Beams without Stirrups”

By A. Koray Tureyen and Robert J. Frosch

This experiment studies the behavior of FRP reinforced concrete beam without stirrups and
contribution of FRP bars on shear resistance of the section. Since FRP and steel bars have different
modulus of elasticity, the primary purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of these
material properties on shear strength of beams. Furthermore, the author mentions that most
empirical relations suggested by codes are based on steel-reinforced concrete members and aims
to look at the efficiency of code recommended methods for determination of shear strengths.
Shear transfer depends on following factors: aggregate concrete interlock, dowel action, residual
tensile stress of the cracked portion and contribution from non-cracked concrete. However,
flexural cracks in concrete will affect the contributions of aggregate interlock, residual tensile
strength and reduces the depth of non-cracked concrete. The author believes that the difference in
modulus of different materials will have pronounced effect on beams behavior to shear stresses.
Tests were conducted on nine RC beams without transverse reinforcement and were divided into
two groups. Each group consisted of 3 FRP bar reinforced beam and at least one steel reinforced
beam. Couple of glass FRP bars and one aramid FRP bar was used in each group (each with
different modulus of elasticity); group 1 had approximately 1% reinforcement ratio whereas in
second group it was 2%. Beams were simply supported with sufficient anchorage extending
beyond the supports to eliminate bond failure. The specimens were loaded centrally with
concentrated force and corresponding applied loads and deflections were measured upon each load
increment.
Prior to the formation of flexural cracks, load-deflection curve was linear with similar stiffness.
This can suggest that prior to appearances of discontinuities in structure, geometry of the structure
dictates the stiffness and type of reinforcement doesn’t contribute much. However, on higher
stages of loading stiffness of FRP reinforced beams significantly dropped compared to steel
reinforced beams. At the ultimate stage, the level of deflections in the FRP reinforced beam was
found to be higher than deflections in steel reinforced beam. The author introduces a term effective
reinforcement (ρeff = ρ*(Ereinforcement/Esteel)) to compare shear strength of the materials. It can be
seen that V-G1-1 had ρeff=0.19 (approximately 20% of ρeff of steel), however, the ultimate shear
strength was 24.3 kips (approximately 60% of Vult,steel ). It can also be said that in terms of effective
reinforcement FRP bars potentially exhibit higher strength which the author could have included
in his discussions.
All the members displayed similar crack patterns; flexural cracks initially followed by diagonal
tension cracks. However, on FRP reinforced members cracks propagated deep into the section
leaving a shallow compression zone. Consequently, even if the stirrups were present the author
comments that the anchorage length would not have been sufficient to develop tensile strength.
Three different code specified relations were used to calculate shear strength provided by concrete:
(ACI 318-99, 11-3), (ACI 318-99, 11-3) and ACI 440.1R23. The results indicated that calculations
using ACI 318-99 equations gave comparable but unconservative values for shear strength
whereas ACI 440.1R23’s equations were found to be highly conservative with factors as high as
4.
Therefore, author states that code prescribed methods for shear strength calculation of FRP
reinforced concrete members were found to be inadequate and requires revision. Contribution of
reinforcement bar’s stiffness to strength was found to be very high, however according to author
code does not encapsulate this parameter. All in all, conclusions suggested by the author seems
reasonable and supported by experimental results. The effect of bond between rebar and concrete
plays an important role on shear strength, but the outcome of different type of rebar surface (which
has significant role on bond) on strength is not mentioned in the article. Moreover, details about
the crack width at various levels of loading should have been measured; as crack width increases,
it decreases shear capacity. Its measurement would have given better understanding about behavior
of members at different levels of loading.