Behavior of concrete beams reinforced with GFRP under transverse force

The article discusses the effect of transverse reinforcement spacing for the strength and deformation characteristics of beams with glass fibre reinforced polymer. The bending tests results of reinforced concrete specimens are presented (GFRP) with different concrete strength and reinforcement spacing. Force-deflection, force-GFRP bars deformation and force-concrete compressed zone deformation dependencies are given in the article. Based on ultimate force and beams destruction pattern it is established that increasing transverse reinforcement spacing reduces the beams strength and leads to destruction in oblique section. With narrow-mashed transverse reinforcement fracture occurs in the compressed zone of concrete. A computational analysis for different types of beams fracture is presented. It is established that transverse reinforcement spacing doesn't affect the parameters determined by service limit state: crack formation load, crack width and beam deflection. A comparative analysis of maximum permissible deflection based on test results and theoretical calculations was carried out. The numerical values of bending stiffness parameter are obtained at the loading stages with linear deformation before and after first crack formation.