Experimental Investigation on Post-Fire Mechanical Properties of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Rebars

Chanachai Thongchom; Lili Hu; Penpichcha Khongpermgoson Sanit-In; Denise-Penelope N Kontoni; Nitipong Praphaphankul; Koravith Tiprak; Suphanut Kongwat

doi:10.3390/polym15132925

Experimental Investigation on Post-Fire Mechanical Properties of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Rebars

Polymers (Basel). 2023 Jul 1;15(13):2925. doi: 10.3390/polym15132925.

Authors

Chanachai Thongchom¹, Lili Hu², Penpichcha Khongpermgoson Sanit-In³, Denise-Penelope N Kontoni^{4

5}, Nitipong Praphaphankul⁶, Koravith Tiprak⁶, Suphanut Kongwat^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat School of Engineering, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
² State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
³ Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand.
⁴ Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of the Peloponnese, GR-26334 Patras, Greece.
⁵ School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, GR-26335 Patras, Greece.
⁶ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-M1-23 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan.
⁷ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand.
⁸ Future Automotive Structure Research Group (FASt), Mobility and Vehicle Technology Research Center, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand.

Abstract

Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars are commonly used as an alternative to conventional steel reinforcement in a variety of structural applications due to their superior low cost, strength-to-weight ratio, and durability. However, their mechanical properties after exposure to elevated temperatures, particularly in fire-prone environments, remain a significant concern. To address this concern, the present study focuses on investigating the residual tensile behavior, specifically the tensile strength and elastic modulus, of GFRP rebars exposed to high temperatures that are realistically encountered during fire incidents. The temperature range considered in this analysis spans from 100 °C to 400 °C, with a heating rate of 20 °C/min. The fire duration of 1 h is used. This comprehensive analysis is essential for enhancing our understanding of the performance and applicability of GFRP rebars in fire-prone environments. Based on their actual application in the construction industry, five specimens of three different rebar sizes (16, 20, and 25 mm) were examined for the effect of rebar size on tensile behavior after fire exposure. In addition, the effects were investigated of air- and water-cooling methods on residual tensile behavior. The nominal tensile strength, elastic modulus, and ultimate strain of GFRP rebars at ambient temperature are 930 MPa, 50.2 GPa and 1.85%, respectively. The test results indicated that as the temperature increased to 400 °C, the ultimate tensile strength of the GFRP bars decreased by up to 55%, while the ultimate strain increased by up to 44%, regardless of the cooling method. In addition, when rebars of sizes 16-25 mm were subjected to a 400 °C fire treatment, the smaller the rebar, the greater the percentage of ultimate tensile and strain reduction. These findings hold great significance for the utilization of GFRP bars within the construction industry. This study offers valuable insights into the design of fire-resilient structures, emphasizing the importance of considering rebar size and cooling methods due to their impact on the post-fire tensile strength and strain of GFRP rebars.

Keywords: glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bar; post-fire strength; temperature; tensile behavior; tensile strength.

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Program Fund of Non-Metallic Excellence and Innovation Center for Building Materials (2023TDA5-1) and the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST (2022QNRC001). This work was also supported by Thammasat University Research Unit in Structural and Foundation Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, and the Thailand Science Research and Innovation Fundamental Fund fiscal year 2023.