Load capacity prediction of hybrid (FRP/steel) reinforced concrete beams

Concrete beams reinforced with a hybrid of steel bars and fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars (HRC) offer enhanced strength, serviceability, and durability. Unlike conventional steel reinforcement, FRP bars exhibit a linear elastic behaviour up to the point of failure, resulting in a distinct load capacity for HRC beams compared to beams reinforced solely with steel or FRP. In the present paper collected a comprehensive database of 86 hRC beams from the literature. Collected data served as the basis for investigating equations proposed by previous researchers to predict the load capacity for flexural failure of HRC beams. Comparisons between experimental results and theoretical predictions demonstrate that the models developed by previous researchers based on ACI 440.1 R and CSA S806 codes gave conservative estimating for the load capacity with a mean of 0.89, 0.94, and 0.90; the standard deviation of 13%, 12%, and 13%, and coefficient of variation of 15%, 13%, and 14%. In this study, a new equation was developed to predict the load capacity of HRC beams. By comparing it with the proposed equations to predict the load capacity of HRC beams, it gave an average value of 1.01, a standard deviation of 15%, and a coefficient of variation of 15%.