Behaviors of arched tunneling segments reinforced by basalt fiber reinforced plastic rebars

Abstract In this research, basalt fiber reinforced plastic (BFRP) rebars reinforced tunneling segment (BRRTS) technique was developed. All the BFRP rebars were designed, pre‐cured according to the reinforcement design and the reinforcement drawing of steel rebars reinforced concrete tunneling segments (SRRTSs). Two criteria, the equal reinforcement ratio criterion (ERRC) and the half stiffness principle (HSP), were applied to design the BRRTs. Bending experiments were performed to reveal the deformation, damage and load carrying capacity of the BRRTSs. With flexural‐shearing coupling failure mode, the BRRTS has longer elastoplastic deformation and comparable (ERRC) or much greater (HSP) load carrying capacity compared with traditional SRRTS, indicating that the BRRTS can replace the SRRTS in some cases. Highlights BFRP rebars reinforced tunneling segment was designed, constructed, and tested. BFRP rebars reinforced tunneling segment has long ductile deformation. BFRP rebars reinforced tunneling segment has higher load‐bearing capacity. Utilization efficiency of BFRP rebars varies from 0.565 to 0.646.