Durability of glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars in water and simulated concrete pore solution. (13th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Yixun; Liu, Shuai; Pan, Yunfeng; Miu, Xinbo; Liu, Jintao
• Is Part Of: Construction & building materials. Volume 299(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09-13
• Subjects: Glass fiber-reinforced polymer -- Alkaline solution -- Water immersion -- Interlaminar shear strength; Building materials -- Periodicals; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123995
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-0618

Abstract

Highlights: Strength of glass fiber-reinforced polymer in basic environments was studied. Aging in pH 13.0 solution induced the highest equilibrium water absorption. Aging in pH 13.0 solution caused the greatest interlaminar shear strength reduction. Predictive equation proposed for GFRP bar long-term interlaminar shear strength. Interlaminar shear strength predictions match roughly with field results. Abstract: In this study, the durability of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars in alkaline environments was studied. The GFRP bars were immersed in distilled water and alkaline solutions of various pH values at temperatures of 21 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C. The water absorption and interlaminar shear strength of the GFRP bars were measured concerning conditioning time. The equilibrium water absorption of the GFRP bars in an alkaline solution of pH 13.0 was one order of magnitude higher than that of GFRP bars in distilled water and an alkaline solution of pH 10.0. Compared with samples conditioned in distilled water or the alkaline solution of pH 10.0, those aged in the alkaline solution of pH 13.0 showed a greater reduction in interlaminar shear strength. This reduction increased with increasing environmental temperature and conditioning time. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the deterioration of GFRP bars aged in the alkaline solution of pH 13.0 was mainly caused by interfacial debonding between glass fibers and resin matrices. Equations were proposed for predicting the long-term interlaminar shear strength of GFRP bars as a function of water absorption and adopted to predict the interlaminar shear strength of GFRP bars in fields. The prediction results roughly match the measurement results.