Mechanical behavior of electronic waste concrete columns reinforced with structural fibers and glass fiber reinforced polymer bars: Experimental and analytical investigation

Abstract

Nowadays, the improper disposal of electronic waste (E-waste) is creating environmental pollution and health problems in developing countries. Moreover, the corrosion of steel bars reduces the serviceability of reinforced concrete columns. Although many researchers studied the behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars in concrete columns, none of the studies investigated the structural performance of structural fiber-reinforced E-waste concrete (SFEC) columns having GFRP reinforcement. The present study aims to examine the structural performance of GFRP reinforced concrete circular columns consisting of polypropylene structural fibers (GSFEC columns) under concentric and eccentric loading. Identical steel bars reinforced concrete columns (SSFEC columns) were also manufactured and tested to failure under the same loading conditions. The experimental program consisted of 18 circular columns (1200 mm × 300 mm) to measure the axial capacity (AC), axial deflections, failure modes, and cracking patterns under different eccentric loadings. The AC of SSFEC columns was larger while the ductility was lower than GSFEC columns. Both GSFEC and SSFEC columns illustrated similar damaging behavior. The eccentric loading led to similar decreases in AC for both GSFEC and SSFEC columns.