GFRP Shear Reinforcement for Slab-Column Edge Connections Subjected to Reversed Cyclic Lateral Load

In regions of high seismic activity, flat plate systems can be used as gravity force resisting systems, where special moment frames are provided as seismic force resisting systems. Nevertheless, all elements of the reinforced concrete (RC) structure must have sufficient deformability to be capable of deforming into the inelastic range. An efficient method of enhancing the deformability of flat plate systems is providing slab shear reinforcement. This paper presents the results of an experimental program evaluating the efficiency of two new types of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) shear reinforcement in enhancing the deformability of GFRP-RC slab-column edge connections. Three full-scale connections were tested under gravity and uniaxial reversed-cyclic lateral loading, one connection was reinforced with GFRP shear studs, one with GFRP corrugated bars, and one had no shear reinforcement. The use of GFRP shear studs and corrugated bars increased the lateral load capacity of the connections by 47% and 44%, respectively. In addition, both types of GFRP shear reinforcement were able to enhance the deformability of the connections significantly, whereas the connection with shear studs was able to sustain deformations associated with 3.50% drift ratio without jeopardizing its gravity load capacity.