Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars have been increasingly used as reinforcement in concrete structures. However, when the bars are exposed to high temperatures, there is a change in the internal structure of the polymer which affects the tensile strength of the matrix and its adhesion with the fibers, reducing the mechanical strength of the bar. In addition, with increasing temperature, the bar-concrete interface is also damaged by the decomposition of hydration products from the cement paste and the loss of surface adhesion. The intensity of these changes is associated with the type of resin used as a matrix since each polymer has its own molecular structure that provides a greater or lesser ability to resist the changes imposed by temperature. The present study evaluates the mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete containing different types of GFRP bars and subjected to temperatures of 150 °C, 300 °C, and 350 °C. The GFRP bars with three types of matrices (polyester, vinyl ester, or epoxy) were mechanically evaluated under tension in two conditions: isolated and inserted into reinforced concrete specimens with a thickness of 20 mm, using two types of concrete (with and without silica fume). Degradation mechanisms at the bar/concrete interface were evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and bond techniques. The results showed that the type of matrix has a significant influence on the tensile behavior of GFRP bars, with the epoxy matrix showing the best performance, followed by bars with vinyl ester and polyester matrix resins. The use of silica fume improved the performance of the concrete coating and, consequently, improved the protection of GFRP bars, hindering the diffusion of oxygen and heat; bar/concrete adhesion was compromised by thermal degradation of GFRP bar ribs.
Keywords: GFRP bars; durability; thermal degradation.