Viscoelastic Behavior of a Polyester Resin Concrete Reinforced With Nonmetallic Bars Under Bending Loads

This article deals with the study of a highly durable polyester polymer concrete reinforced with glass fiber polymer rebars. It describes the specific properties of the concrete, which were tested using different experimental techniques such as porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and petrography. Likewise, characterization on a macroscale was carried out to define the mechanical properties of the material (modulus of elasticity, stress-strain curve, ultimate strength, and bond). Having defined these properties, the article then presents a relatively simple calculation method to estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of beams under bending load, which is then verified by testing both beams and full-scale elements. Bearing in mind the viscoelastic nature of the polymer, several considerations are advanced on the identification of safety factors connected with permanent load (deferred deformations) and live load. POLYM. COMPOS., 30:791-804, 2009. (C) 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers