Concrete filled glass fiber reinforced polymer (gfrp) short column

This thesis presents experimental studies which investigate the mechanical behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) tubes under axial compressive loading. The GFRP tubes were square in cross-section and filled with self-compacting concrete (SCC). A total number of ten specimens with major variables such as cross-section, length and compressive strength of SCC were tested in this experiment program. The column application of GFRP tubes in this study has found that concrete confinement by GFRP, significantly enhances the mechanical performance of columns under the axial compressive loading. In addition, the function of GFRP square tubes as permanent formwork can facilitate the construction process and provide better environmental protection for the concrete columns against acid and alkali. The GFRP square tube SCC-filled test results has showed an increase up to even 20 % in load carrying capacity of columns. The fracture and failure mechanism has been found to be brittle rather than ductile, this phenomenon was observed to be caused by brittle behavior of concrete core without the steel reinforcement. It has been noticed from the test results that ultimate axial strain hasn't been significantly affected by GFRP tubes confinement.