Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer Rebars

Concrete is such a versatile material for its fire resistance and compressive strength, but it is too weak in tension area. As a solution for this the construction industry introduced steel rebars they are strong, inexpensive and have high ductility. However, governments and building owners incur significant maintenance costs to replace or repair aging infrastructure due to steel's susceptibility to corrosion. Corrosion can cause fatalities and structural failure in extreme situations. Steel rebar is being replaced by a variety of alternative materials in reinforced concrete due to advancements in materials technology. These consist of bamboo, glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebar, carbon fiber cables, steel, and carbon fiber. Among these while considering cost and serviceability GFRP is a good option. GFRP rebar is made from a non-metallic material, which makes it resistant to corrosion also the polymer matrix in GFRP rebar provides a barrier against corrosion. Apart from that the glass fibres in GFRP rebar are corrosion resistant. Major cause of corrosion in steel is due to electro chemical reaction. Since GFRP rebar is non-magnetic and insulator that is also an advantage. In addition to the material property, it also possesses higher tensile strength, flexural strength etc. There are some other properties which require improvement including bond strength, stiffness etc.

GFRP rebar is a perfect substitute for steel but that doesn’t mean it can be suitable for every use. In high load applications and high-rise buildings steel is preferred. while in bridge construction, in concrete reinforcement and for buildings require light weight GFRP is a perfect solution. Further innovations ongoing in this area can replace steel in future.