Behavior of concrete beams reinforced with steel bars or thermoset and thermoplastic resin GFRP bars

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars have peculiar mechanical and physical properties that make them a viable alternative to traditional steel bars to reinforce concrete members, particularly in the case of aggressive environments. GFRP bars can be made with thermosetting or thermoplastic resins. While in the former case research has been done for several years, limited knowledge is available regarding the behavior of concrete members reinforced with thermoplastic bars. In this paper, the experimental behavior of concrete beams reinforced with steel and thermoset or thermoplastic GFRP bars is compared, showing the effectiveness of both types of bar when adopted as internal reinforcement.