What is GFRP Bar | GFRP Bars vs Steel Bars

In this article, we are going to explain all details about GFRP Bars, the Advantages & Disadvantages of GFRP Bars, Properties of GFRP Bars, application of GFRP Rebar in construction.

So please read the article till the end, and if you found this information then please share with your friends, if you have any queries please comment.

Reinforcement is like a bone of any structural element which resists tensile stress. Steel rebars are the most common type of reinforcement of every RCC Structure. Steel was selected as a reinforcement material due to the strong bonding between steel and concrete.

But nowadays, the increase in prices of steel rebars & cement is very painful for any contractor. Some contractor deducts the quantity of this material during construction due to the high price of such materials.

Also, Some contractors are adopting the best alternative of such material, such as pozzolana cement is the best alternative of ordinary Portland cement which consists of very similar properties to OPC. Also generate less heat of hydration, due to that the initial shrinkage cracks or hair cracks are reduced in concrete.

But, What about conventional Rebar? is an alternative to steel rebar? Most people are searching for the answer to these questions because very less study present in the industry which proves that this material is the best alternative to steel.

So, in this article, we discussed the best alternative of steel rebars, which have very similar properties to conventional steel. Let’s Start

What is GFRP Bar?

The full form of GFRP Bar is Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer which is a composite material of longitudinal glass fibers, polyester resins & matrix material.

Nowadays, It’s become the best alternative reinforcing material in RCC Structure due to its Properties and elastic behavior that is very similar to Conventional steel rebars.

GFRP Bars also give enough time to alert before failure which is again similar to steel. The most advantageous feature of GFRP Bars is their corrosion resistance.

GFRP Bars are anti-corrosive materials that allow constructing any element with keeping the minimum cover in severe or extremely severe environmental conditions. GFRP Bars are available in every standard size.

The young’s modulus of gfrp bars is very similar to steel rebar. In research, it’s found that the glass fiber reinforced concrete offers high bending properties as compared to steel rebar (RCC).

Also Read: Construction Procedure of Under Reamed Piles

Properties of GFRP Bars

Application of GFRP Bars

The construction application of GFRP Bars is listed below.

• Aerospace and Defence
• Automotive Industry
• Power Generation
• Dock & Marines applications (Seawall, Dock, Harbour)
• Fountains and aquariums
• Cooling Towers
• Mining and tunneling
• Highway Applicatons
• Transport Infrastructure (Bus station, Runway, Highway Pavements)
• Highrise building construction
• Diaphragm Walls
• Drilled Pile Wall
• Soil Nails & earth Retaintion

GFRP Bars found the best construction rebar material for highway, marine & transportation applications.

Also Read: Monolithic Construction Technology

Advantages of GFRP Bars

• High strength to weight ratio
• Anti-corrosive material. It’s good for marine construction Application.
• Increase durability of structure.
• Better stiffness as compared to conventional rebar.
• Gives enough time to alert before brittle or sudden failure.
• Allow to design structural element for high load with keeping minimum sectional area.
• Easy to Use.
• Save maintenance cost of structures.
• The serviceability performance of GFRP Bar is better as compared to conventional steel.
• Electrically and thermally non-conductive. Due to this advantage of GFRP Bars, its become a ideal material for sensitive building such as research facilities, health facilities, Power Plants, Laboratoris, etc

Also Read: What is Tunnel Formwork System

GFRP Bars Vs Steel Bars

Reference: Replacement of steel rebars by GFRP rebars in the concrete structures

Frequently Asked Questions