Nonlinear analysis of flexural performance of reactive powder concrete beams reinforced with hybrid GFRP and steel bars

In this paper, flexural performance of reactive powder concrete (RPC) beams reinforced with hybrid glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) and steel bars was investigated by finite element (FE) analysis, and predicted formulae of flexural capacity was proposed. First, based on the corresponding tests, the FE models of reinforced RPC beams were built, and the applicability of FE method with RPC material was verified. After that, the FE models of RPC beams reinforced with hybrid GFRP and steel bars was designed, and the flexural performance of such beams was investigated. The influence of GFRP bar ratio, steel bar ratio, and resultant force of hybrid reinforcements on the vertical load – deflection curves were observed. Finally, the formulae of the flexural capacity of the normal section of RPC beams reinforced with hybrid GFRP and steel bars was derived. By comparing the results of proposed formulae and FE analysis, it was found that they were in good agreement. Therefore, the proposed formulae can be used to predict the flexural capacity of such RPC beams with hybrid reinforcements.