Hybrid flexural components: Testing pre-stressed steel and GFRP bars together as reinforcement for flexural members

Concrete members historically have used either pre-stressed steel or steel bars. In recent years there has been an increased interest in the use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials. However, the flexure behavior of a hybrid system reinforced by the combination of pre-stressed steel and glass fiber reinforced (GFRP) is still relatively unknown. The purpose of this work is to study this. Two slabs of 100 and 150-millimeter thickness, with a span of 2.1 m reinforced with both pre-stressing steel and GFRP were constructed and tested to failure using ACI 318-11 and ACI 440.1R-15. The concrete had strength of 31 MPa and the slabs were respectively reinforced with 5#4 bars and 3#5 bars. Each slab had 37.41 mm² prestressing wire with a failure stress of 1722.5 MPa. The experimental flexural strength and deflection of slabs were compared with their respective sizes theoretical slabs. The theoretical slabs were either reinforced with pre-stressed steel or GFRP rebars, or a hybrid system. It was found that the hybrid system produces better results.