Flexural performance of hybrid GFRP-Steel reinforced concrete continuous beams

This paper presents the experimental results of five large-scale hybrid glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP)-steel reinforced concrete continuous beams compared with two concrete continuous beams reinforced with either steel or GFRP bars as reference beams. In addition, two simply supported concrete beams reinforced with hybrid GFRP/steel were tested. The amount of longitudinal GFRP, steel reinforcements and area of steel bars to GFRP bars were the main investigated parameter in this study. The experimental results showed that increasing the GFRP reinforcement ratio simultaneously at the sagging and hogging zones resulted in an increase in the load capacity, however, less ductile behaviour. On the other hand, increasing the steel reinforcement ratio at critical sections resulted in more ductile behaviour, however, less load capacity increase after yielding of steel. The test results were compared with code equations and available theoretical models for predicting the beam load capacity and load-deflection response. It was concluded that Yoon's model reasonably predicted the deflection of the hybrid beams tested, whereas, the ACI.440.1R-15 equation underestimated the hybrid beam deflections. It was also shown that the load capacity prediction for hybrid reinforced concrete continuous beams based on a collapse mechanism with plastic hinges at mid-span and central support sections was reasonably close to the experimental failure load.