Although extensive experimental investigations have been carried out to study the flexural cracking behavior of concrete beams reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars, the relevant finite element modeling and analyses have been found to be rare. In this paper, an FE modeling approach for predicting the crack width and crack spacing of Glass-FRP (GFRP) bars reinforced concrete (RC) beams is presented. To evaluate the developed FE model, a database comprised of 18 GFRP-bar RC flexural beams is assembled. By simulating the test beams, four bond-slip models are assessed and a new rigid-plastic-based bond-slip model is proposed in this study. Comparison between the experimental and FE results indicates that the proposed bond-slip model is superior to the others. The developed FE approach with the proposed bond-slip model can well reproduce the effects of various factors (including the tension reinforcement ratio, bar diameter, type of GFRP tension bars, stirrup spacing in the pure bending zone and the cover thickness) on the crack width and crack spacing of GFRP-bar RC beams. Some suggestions on the determination of bond-dependent factors kb, which is used in the expressions for predicting the crack width suggested by the North American codes, are also provided.
ACI. Guide for the design and construction of structural concrete reinforced with FRP bars (ACI 440.1R-06). Farmington Hills, MI: American Concrete Institute Committee, 2006, p. 440.
2.
ACI. Guide for the design and construction of structural concrete reinforced with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars. Farmington Hills, MI: American Concrete Institute, 2015.
3.
fib. FRP reinforcement in RC structures. Lausanne: International Federation for Structural Concrete, 2007.
4.
CSA. Canadian highway bridge design code. Mississauga, ON: Canadian Standard Association, 2014.
5.
CSA. Design and construction of building structures with fibre-reinforced polymers. Mississauga, ON: Canadian Standards Association, 2012.
6.
FroschRJ. Another look at cracking and crack control in reinforced concrete. ACI Struct J1999; 96(3): 437–442.
7.
ShieldCBrownVBakisCE, et al.A recalibration of the crack width bond-dependent coefficient for GFRP-reinforced concrete. J Compos Construct2019; 23(4): 04019020.
8.
BenzecryVRuiz EmparanzaADe Casoy BasaloF, et al.Bond coefficient, kb, of GFRP bars. Construct Build Mater2021; 292: 123380.
9.
El-NemrAAhmedEAEl-SaftyA, et al.Evaluation of the flexural strength and serviceability of concrete beams reinforced with different types of GFRP bars. Eng Struct2018; 173: 606–619.
10.
JuMParkYParkC. Cracking control comparison in the specifications of serviceability in cracking for FRP reinforced concrete beams. Compos Struct2017; 182: 674–684.
11.
BarrisCTorresLVilanovaI, et al.Experimental study on crack width and crack spacing for Glass-FRP reinforced concrete beams. Eng Struct2017; 131: 231–242.
12.
ElgabbasFVincentPAhmedEA, et al.Experimental testing of basalt-fiber-reinforced polymer bars in concrete beams. Compos B Eng2016; 91: 205–218.
13.
El-NemrAAhmedEABarrisC, et al.Bond-dependent coefficient of glass- and carbon-FRP bars in normal- and high-strength concretes. Construct Build Mater2016; 113: 77–89.
14.
NoëlMSoudkiK. Estimation of the crack width and deformation of FRP-reinforced concrete flexural members with and without transverse shear reinforcement. Eng Struct2014; 59: 393–398.
15.
El-NemrAAhmedEABenmokraneB. Flexural behavior and serviceability of normal- and high-strength concrete beams reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars. ACI Struct J2013; 110(6): 1077.
16.
McCallumBECNewhookJP. Evaluation of the bond dependent coefficient and parameters which influence crack width in GFRP reinforced concrete. In: Proceedings of the sixth international conference on advanced composite materials in bridges and structures, ACMBS VI, Kingston, ON, Canada, 22–25 May 2012.
17.
KassemCFarghalyASBenmokraneB. Evaluation of flexural behavior and serviceability performance of concrete beams reinforced with FRP bars. J Compos Construct2011; 15(5): 682–695.
18.
LeeWKJansenDCBerlinKB, et al.Flexural cracks in fiber-reinforced concrete beams with fiber-reinforced polymer reinforcing bars. ACI Struct J2010; 107(3): 321–329.
19.
El-SalakawyEBenmokraneB. Serviceability of concrete bridge deck slabs reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer composite bars. ACI Struct J2004; 101(5): 727–736.
20.
ToutanjiHDengY. Deflection and crack-width prediction of concrete beams reinforced with glass FRP rods. Construct Build Mater2003; 17(1): 69–74.
21.
BarrisCTorresLComasJ, et al.Cracking and deflections in GFRP RC beams: an experimental study. Compos B Eng2013; 55: 580–590.
22.
RashidYR. Ultimate strength analysis of prestressed concrete pressure vessels. Nucl Eng Des1968; 7(4): 334–344.
23.
CervenkaVRimkusAGribniakV, et al.Simulation of the crack width in reinforced concrete beams based on concrete fracture. Theor Appl Fract Mech2022; 121: 103428.
24.
RimkusACervenkaVGribniakV, et al.Uncertainty of the smeared crack model applied to RC beams. Eng Fract Mech2020; 233: 107088.
25.
CervenkaVCervenkaJKadlecL. Model uncertainties in numerical simulations of reinforced concrete structures. Struct Concr2018; 19(6): 2004–2016.
26.
Dias-da-CostaDCervenkaVGraça-e-CostaR. Model uncertainty in discrete and smeared crack prediction in RC beams under flexural loads. Eng Fract Mech2018; 199: 532–543.
27.
ČervenkaJČervenkaVLasernaS. On crack band model in finite element analysis of concrete fracture in engineering practice. Eng Fract Mech2018; 197: 27–47.
28.
GribniakVCervenkaVKaklauskasG. Deflection prediction of reinforced concrete beams by design codes and computer simulation. Eng Struct2013; 56: 2175–2186.
29.
HuangZTuYMengS, et al.Validation of a numerical method for predicting shear deformation of reinforced concrete beams. Eng Struct2019; 197(1): 109367.
30.
HuangZLüZSongS, et al.Finite element analysis of shear deformation in reinforced concrete shear-critical beams. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering2018; 14(6): 791–806.
31.
ChenGAnRXuJ, et al.Finite element analysis of the reinforcement ratio effect on tension stiffening in FRP reinforced concrete beams. Compos Struct2022; 298: 116020.
32.
BencardinoFCondelloAOmbresL. Numerical and analytical modeling of concrete beams with steel, FRP and hybrid FRP-steel reinforcements. Compos Struct2016; 140: 53–65.
33.
fib. fib model code for concrete structures 2010. Lausanne: International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib), 2010.
34.
SolyomSBalázsGL. Bond of FRP bars with different surface characteristics. Construct Build Mater2020; 264: 119839.
35.
BaenaMTorresLTuronA, et al.Experimental study of bond behaviour between concrete and FRP bars using a pull-out test. Composites Part B2009; 40(8): 784–797.
36.
BenmokraneBTighiouartBChaallalO. Bond strength and load distribution of composite GFRP reinforcing bars in concrete. ACI Mater J1996; 93(3): 254–259.
37.
JakubovskisRKaklauskasGGribniakV, et al.Serviceability analysis of concrete beams with different arrangements of GFRP bars in the tensile zone. J Compos Construct2014; 18(5): 04014005.
38.
SooriyaarachchiH. Tension stiffening effect in GFRP reinforced concrete elements. Sheffield: The University of Sheffield, 2006.
39.
CosenzaEManfrediGRealfonzoR. Behavior and modeling of bond of FRP rebars to concrete. J Compos Construct1997; 1(2): 40–51.
40.
EligehausenRPopovEPBerteroVV. Local bond stress-slip relationships of deformed bars under generalized excitations. Berkeley, CA: University of California, 1983. Contract No.: REPORT NO. UCB/EERC-83/23.
ACI. Building code requirements for structural concrete (ACI 318-19). Farmington Hills, MI: American Concrete Institute, 2019.
43.
HordijkDA. Local approach to fatigue of concrete. Delft: Delft University of Technology, 1991.
44.
CEB-FIP. CEB-FIP model code 90. London: Thomas Telford Ltd, 1993.
45.
RotsJG. Computational modeling of concrete fracture. Delft: Delft University of Technology, 1988.
46.
ChenGMChenJFTengJG. On the finite element modelling of RC beams shear-strengthened with FRP. Construct Build Mater2012; 32: 13–26.
47.
ChenGMTengJGChenJF, et al.Finite element modeling of debonding failures in FRP-strengthened RC beams: a dynamic approach. Comput Struct2015; 158: 167–183.
48.
GribniakVPérez CaldenteyAKaklauskasG, et al.Effect of arrangement of tensile reinforcement on flexural stiffness and cracking. Eng Struct2016; 124: 418–428.
49.
MiàsCTorresLGuadagniniM, et al.Short and long-term cracking behaviour of GFRP reinforced concrete beams. Compos B Eng2015; 77: 223–231.
50.
BarrisCTorresLTuronA, et al.An experimental study of the flexural behaviour of GFRP RC beams and comparison with prediction models. Compos Struct2009; 91(3): 286–295.
51.
ACI. Control of cracking of concrete structures (ACI 224R-01). Farmington Hills, MI: American Concrete Institute, 2001.
52.
BarrisCTorresLMiàsC, et al.Design of FRP reinforced concrete beams for serviceability requirements. J Civ Eng Manag2012; 18(6): 843–857.
53.
MartiPAlvarezMKaufmannW, et al.Tension Chord model for structural concrete. Struct Eng Int: J International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE)1998; 8(4): 287–298.
54.
SolyomSBalázsGL. Analytical and statistical study of the bond of FRP bars with different surface characteristics. Compos Struct2021; 270: 113953.
55.
VilanovaITorresLBaenaM, et al.Numerical simulation of bond-slip interface and tension stiffening in GFRP RC tensile elements. Compos Struct2016; 153: 504–513.
56.
GalkovskiTMata-FalcónJKaufmannW. Experimental investigation of bond and crack behaviour of reinforced concrete ties using distributed fibre optical sensing and digital image correlation. Eng Struct2023; 292(1): 116467.
57.
RuizMFMuttoniAGambarovaPG. Analytical modeling of the pre- and postyield behavior of bond in reinforced concrete. J Struct Eng2007; 133(10): 1364–1372.
58.
BalázsG. Cracking analysis based on slip and bond stresses. ACI Mater J1993; 90: 340–348.
