Bolívar Maza, Julio Silverio, Daniela Maza

Abstract:

The corrosion of steel embedded in structural elements of ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPC) induces cracks and fissures, contributing to the reduction of the Useful Life Period of Structures (RULPS). The global OPC industry is the third-largest emitter of Anthropogenic CO2(A_CO2). Producing one ton of OPC implies producing another ton of CO2, accounting for a 7% carbon footprint on a global scale. The RULPS of Reinforced Concrete (RC) housing due to reinforcement corrosion doubles A_CO2 emissions. Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars do not corrode. The objective is to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions in RC constructions. The behavior of GFRP and STEEL concrete reinforcement was studied separately through shear, flexion, and traction in concrete beams. Three specimens of simply reinforced concrete beams with steel (V1SRA, V2SRA, and V3SRA) were fabricated according to ASTM C-31, as well as a model of a simply reinforced beam with GFRP (V1SRP). Flexural tests using the three-point method were executed on a SHIMADZU machine. Numerical records were organized for statistical processing. It was found that the tensile strength of GFRP bars applied as reinforcement in concrete beams exceeds by 37.41% the tensile strength of reinforcing steel bars under the same conditions. It is reported that the beam model (VSRP, Af=cm2) does not show significant fissures before failure. It is concluded that the toughness of polymer bars reinforced with glass fibers significantly attenuates the generation of fissures and cracks in concrete beams. In this sense, the useful life of concrete structures is stabilized. The two materials studied must coexist as a philosophy of sustainable design.

Keywords: Finite elements; Corrosion; Emissions; Shear stress; Useful life period.

Date Published: June 12, 2024
DOI: 10.11159/ijci.2024.005

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