Performance of concrete beams prestressed with aramid fiber-reinforced polymer tendons

Deterioration related to steel corrosion of constructed facilities such as bridge decks and large structures has resulted in costly repairs and led to users' inconvenience. To increase the longevity of these facilities, an intelligent use of materials and new designs will be essential. There is an increasing worldwide interest in utilizing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for civil infrastructure applications. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the flexural behavior of concrete beams prestressed with aramid fiber-reinforced polymer (AFRP) tendons. Concrete beams prestressed with FRP tendons usually exhibit brittle failure due to the brittle nature of the FRP composites. In order to improve the ductility of such beams, a series of flexural tests was conducted on four full-scale beams prestressed with bonded and/or unbonded aramid rectangular tendons. Results show that ductility can be significantly enhanced by using a combination of bonded and unbonded tendons or by the addition of nontensioned rebars. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.