Experimental Testing of Fiber Reinforced Polymer-Concrete Composite Beam

A new form of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP)-concrete composite beam is proposed in this study. The proposed composite beam consists of a GFRP box beam combined with a thin layer of concrete in the compression zone. The interaction between the GFRP beam and the concrete was obtained by bonding coarse-sand on the top flange of the GFRP beam. One GFRP box beam and one GFRP-concrete composite beam were investigated in four-point bending test. Load-deflection response, mid-span longitudinal strain distributions and interface slip between GFRP beam and the concrete for the proposed composite beam were studied. Following conclusions are drawn from this study: (1) the stiffness and strength of the composite beam has been significantly increased, and the cost-to-stiffness ratio of the composite beam has been drastically reduced comparing with GFRP-only box beam; (2) a good composite action has been achieved between the GFRP beam and the concrete; (3) crushing of concrete in compression defines flexural collapse of the proposed composite beam..