Journals Proceedings

Abstract

The thermal behavior is one of the main drawbacks of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars embedded in concrete due to the significant difference between the transverse coefficient of thermal expansion of FRP bars and that of concrete. This difference generates a radial pressure at the FRP bar/concrete interface under high temperatures, and may cause splitting cracks within concrete. This paper presents a numerical study using ADINA finite elements software to predict transverse thermal strains in glass FRP (GFRP) bars and concrete cover of GFRP bars-reinforced concrete slabs submitted to a temperature increase varied from -50 to +60°C and having a ratio of concrete cover thickness to FRP bar diameter varied from 1.3 to 2.8. The transverse thermal strains, at FRP bar/concrete interface and at external surface of concrete cover, obtained from the numerical model are compared with those obtained from the analytical model and experimental tests.