Out-of-plane shear behavior of BFRP-reinforced geopolymer concrete one-way slabs: Experimental and numerical investigations

Sustainability and durability in construction are vital considerations that involve using environmentally friendly materials and implementing efficient design and construction techniques to minimize the environmental impact. This research study investigated the structural behavior of one-way solid slabs incorporating basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) reinforcement and geopolymer concrete to develop an environmentally sustainable and durable structural member. Six full-scale BFRP-reinforced geopolymer concrete one-way slab specimens were prepared and subjected to four-point loading tests to assess their out-of-plane shear performances. The considered experimental parameters were compressive strength of concrete (i.e., 30, 40 and 50 MPa) and longitudinal tensile reinforcement ratios (i.e., 1.20% and 2.18%). The structural performance of the slabs was carefully investigated in terms of crack patterns, failure modes, load-deflection relationships and load-strain relationships. The obtained shear resistances from tests were compared with predicted results from the Codes of Practice and design guidelines. A two-dimensional (2D) finite element (FE) analysis was conducted, considering the bond-slip relationship between BFRP rebar and geopolymer concrete. It was found that all tested specimens were governed by shear failure and had similar shear resistance for the chosen values of considered parameters. The JSCE shear design method provided the closest prediction of shear resistance of BFRP-reinforced geopolymer concrete one-way slab. The developed FE models predicted the out-of-plane shear performance with reasonable accuracy and revealed that the slip distribution of the BFRP rebar presents a sawtooth shape owing to concrete cracking.