| Concrete-filled fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) tubes (CFFTs) provide an excellent alternative to conventional systems for various structural applications, such as bridge piers and marine piles. CFFT members not only have to resist axial loads, but also significant flexural and shear loads. Previous studies have shown that CFFTs can offer similar flexural strength to conventional reinforced and prestressed concrete members but have far lower flexural stiffness. This can be overcome by introducing internal rebar to provide most of the flexural stiffness and strength while the FRP tube is mostly utilized circumferentially to confine the concrete and provide shear resistance. This study evaluates the flexural and shear performance of reinforced CFFTs (RCFFTs) through experimental and analytical investigations.; The flexural experimental investigation comprised seven beam specimens, 219 mm in diameter and 2.43 m long, tested in four-point bending. Specimens were reinforced with either steel, glass-FRP (GFRP), or carbon-FRP (CFRP) rebar of various reinforcement ratios. GFRP tubes with most fibres oriented circumferentially were used in five specimens. One control specimen included conventional steel spirals of comparable circumferential stiffness to the GFRP tube and the other had no transverse reinforcement. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
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