Abstract
Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcing bars are alternatives to conventional steel reinforcement for concrete structures in aggressive environments. FRP bars offer many advantages, such as corrosion resistance, lightweight, and high tensile strength. Lap splicing is the conventional method for connecting or splicing FRP bars; however, it may result in a significant challenge due to the long development length requirements of FRP reinforcement. Mechanical splices are alternatives where lap splicing is not practical or causes congestion. The lack of an efficient mechanical splice for FRP bars is recognized as a limitation in the full deployment of the composite reinforcement in concrete construction. In this research, three related studies, including two experimental studies and one analytical study, are conducted to investigate the feasibility of splicing Glass FRP (GFRP) bars with two types of mechanical splices: swaged couplers and shear bolt couplers. The first study focuses on numerical simulation of the spliced GFRP bars with swaged steel couplers. A Finite Element (FE) model was developed to investigate the swage pressure and the effect of the coupler's length. The second study focuses on an experimental investigation conducted on splicing No. 4 GFRP bars using swaged steel couplers. Three swaged couplers, four splice lengths, and three surface deformations for GFRP bars were studied. The ultimate strength of the spliced GFRP bars, the coupler's strength, and failure modes were determined by conducting tensile tests. In the third study, a new shear bolt coupler was designed and fabricated to investigate the feasibility of splicing No. 8 GFRP bars. A series of holes were drilled on the GFRP bar and a steel coupler. The bolts were fixed into the GFRP bar and the steel coupler, creating a bearing-type bolted connection with the required bolts, nuts, and washers. Pullout tests were performed to determine the ultimate strength of the spliced GFRP bars, the coupler's strength, and failure modes.