Structural behavior of concrete beams and columns reinforced with Waste Plastic incorporated GFRP (WPGFRP) rebars

Experimental investigations were carried out on novel Waste Plastic incorporated GFRP (WPGFRP) rebars and concrete specimens reinforced with the novel WPGFRP rebars. The WPGFRP rebars were manufactured through pultrusion, using waste plastic (PET powder) as a strength additive filler and various engineering properties are assessed. Tests results indicate that use of PET powder in GFRP rebars which leads to the WPGFRP rebars, increases tensile and compressive strengths of rebars by 17.2% and 19.3% respectively, hence proving to be a strength additive material. Three types of beams and columns were tested for flexure capacity (two-point loading) and axial compression, respectively. First type (Conventional) consists of beams and columns reinforced with Fe500 Steel rebars and stirrups/ties. While both second (Total-FRP) and third (Hybrid) types of beams and columns were reinforced with novel WPGFRP rebars, however differ in the material of their stirrups/ties. WPGFRP stirrups/ties were used in second type of members while Fe500 Steel stirrups/ties were provided in third type. Results indicate that the performance of Hybrid members is superior to that of Conventional and Total-FRP members, in terms of first crack load and failure load. However, large flexural deformations and compressive strains were also observed in case of Hybrid beams and columns, respectively.