Author(s)

J. Fornůsek, P. Konvalinka, R. Sovják & J. L. Vítek

Abstract

Nowadays, composite materials are used more often in every part of industry, including civil engineering. Using these composite materials in civil engineering is innovational and there are many unanswered questions about these materials and the relaxation of the glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) tendon in pre-stressed concrete is one of them. Knowing the long-term behaviour of the pre-stressed GFRP tendons is very important for the right design. Underestimating the long-term changes in the GFRP tendons can lead to serious problems or collapse of a structure. This paper shows two long-term experiments. One of them is the relaxation of pre-stressed GFRP tendons and the second one is creep of a concrete slab reinforced with pre-stressed GFRP tendons. The first experiment shows that relaxation of pre-stressed GFRP tendons is very high. A GFRP tendon was pre-stressed up to 37% (237,9 MPa) of its tensile strength (654,0 MPa). The decrease of tensile stress when the experiment was closed (after 132 days) was about 10,5%. Based on the experimental data, the numerical viscoelastic model consisting of Kelvin links was developed. The modulus of elasticity of the fibres and matrix was determined with the nanoindentation method. Others parameters were fitted from the experimental data. The chosen numerical model corresponds very well with the experimental data, but for the best outcome a longer experiment should be carried out. The numerical model and fitting of parameters were made in MATLAB 2007a software. The creep of the slab shows the long-term behaviour of a structure reinforced with GFRP tendons. The creep test was ended after one year. A concrete slab pre-stressed with GFRP tendons was subjected to a four point loading test with a constant load. During the year deflections and strain were recorded and hence the creep curve is plotted. Keywords: GFRP, creep, relaxation, long-term behaviour, pre-stressing.

Keywords

GFRP, creep, relaxation, long-term behaviour, pre-stressing.