Shear behaviour of SWSS-SCC beams reinforced with GFRP bars and Stirrups: Experimental and analytical investigations

This paper presents a study of shear behaviour of sea-water and sea sand self-compacting concrete (SWSS-SCC) beams reinforced with glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars and stirrups. Nine full-scale beams were conducted and tested under four-point loading up to failure. The investigated experimental variables were the shear-span ratio, configuration of GFRP stirrups, type of the concrete, longitudinal reinforcement ratio and beam depth. The crack pattern, failure mode, load–deflection response, load–strain response and shear capacity of concrete beams were discussed. It is evident in the test results that the ultimate shear capacity of test specimens is enhanced by reducing the shear-span ratio, using the GFRP stirrups, improving the longitudinal FRP reinforcement ratio and increasing the beam depth. The shear behaviours of SWSS-SCC beam reinforced by GFRP bars and stirrups were found to be similar to that of fresh-water and river sand self-compacting concrete (FWRS-SCC) beam. The ultimate shear capacity of the test beams was predicted by the theoretical models reported in the literature. In addition, the effect of the experimental parameters on shear capacity was discussed and the theoretical models of shear strength were evaluated based on the summarized database. It is found that the nominal shear strength is barely affected by the axial compressive strength and is optimal when the longitudinal reinforcement ratio is about 2%. The CSA-S806 2012 specification has more accurate prediction results for the shear capacity of concrete beams reinforced with FRP bars and stirrups.