International Concrete Abstracts Portal

The challenges of deterioration and increasing maintenance costs in steel-reinforced concrete railway sleepers emphasize the urgent need for innovative, durable, and sustainable alternatives. This study evaluated the shear strength of precast concrete sleepers prestressed with basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) rods, using normal self-consolidating concrete (NSCC) and fiber-reinforced self-consolidating concrete (FSCC). Seven full-scale specimens, each 2590 mm (8 ft, 6 in.) in length and prestressed to 30% of the tensile strength of BFRP rods in accordance with the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC), were tested to assess cracking loads, ultimate strength, bond behavior, and failure mechanisms. All tests were conducted in accordance with the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) guidelines. The results indicate that all specimens met AREMA design load requirements without visible cracks or slippage based on a train speed of 64 km/h (40 mph), annual traffic of 40 MGT (million gross tons), and sleeper spacing of 610 mm (24 in.). Comparative analysis using CSA S806-12 (R2021) design standard and ACI 440.4R-04 (R2011) design guide revealed that predictions based on CSA S806-12 (R2021) were less conservative than those from ACI 440.4R-04 (R2011) for the shear strength of BFRP prestressed sleepers. The BFRP rods exhibited excellent tensile performance, with minimal prestress losses, and their sand-coated surface ensured efficient load transfer by preventing slippage and enhancing the bond strength. FSCC specimens demonstrated delayed cracking, enhanced crack control, and ductility compared to NSCC specimens. These findings highlight the potential of BFRP prestressed concrete sleepers, particularly when combined with FSCC, as a sustainable solution for railway infrastructure, emphasizing the need for a design code refinement for BFRP applications.

This study presents a comprehensive review of eco-friendly materials and advanced repair techniques for rehabilitating reinforced-concrete (RC) structures, emphasizing their role in promoting sustainability and enhancing performance. By evaluating fifty-five research programs conducted between 2001 and 2024, the study focuses on emerging materials such as geopolymers, natural fibers, and fiber-reinforced composites, highlighting their mechanical properties, environmental benefits, and potential for integration into traditional RC systems. The review is thematically organized into four areas: (1) Sustainability and Environmental Impacts, (2) Material Innovation and Properties, (3) Repair Techniques and Efficiency, and (4) Structural Performance. Key findings reveal that these materials not only reduce the carbon footprint of construction but also significantly improve structural durability, corrosion resistance, and long-term performance under varying environmental conditions. Specifically, geopolymer concretes exhibit low CO₂ emissions and superior bond strength; bamboo and flax fibers offer strong tensile capacity with renewable sourcing; and MICP techniques deliver self-healing functionality that reduces dependency on chemical-based crack sealants. Additionally, the use of recycled and bio-based materials further contributes to cost-efficiency and environmental resilience, fostering circular economy principles. By synthesizing findings across these domains, this study provides practical insights into how eco-friendly materials can simultaneously address environmental, structural, and economic challenges in RC repair. The study underscores the importance of adopting innovative repair methods that incorporate these sustainable materials to address modern civil engineering challenges, balancing infrastructure longevity, sustainability, and reduced environmental impact.

This paper presents an experimental study on the residual bond of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars embedded in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) subjected to elevated temperatures, including a comparison with ordinary concrete. Based on the range of thermal loading from 25°C (77°F) to 300o°C (572o°F), material and push-out tests are conducted to examine the temperature-dependent properties of the constituents and the behavior of the interface. Also performed are chemical and radiometric analyses. The average specific heat and thermal conductivity of UHPC are 12.1% and 6.1% higher than those of ordinary concrete, respectively. The temperature-induced reduction of density in these mixtures ranges between 5.4% and 6.2% at 300o°C (572o°F). Thermal damage to GFRP, in the context of microcracking, is observed after exposure to 150°C (302°F). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveals prominent wavenumbers at 668 cm^-1 (263 in.^-1) and 2,360 cm^-1 (929 in.^-1), related to the bond between the fibers and resin in the rebars, while spectroradiometry characterizes the thermal degradation of GFRP through diminished reflectivity in conjunction with the peak wavelength positions of 584 nm (2,299×10^-8 in.) and 1,871 nm (7,366×10^-8 in.). The linearly ascending bond-slip response of the interface alters after reaching the maximum shear stresses, leading to gradual and abrupt declines for the ordinary concrete and UHPC, respectively. The failure mode of the ordinary concrete interface is temperature-sensitive; however, spalling in the bonded region is consistently noticed in the UHPC interface. The fracture energy of the interface with UHPC exceeds that of the interface with the ordinary concrete beyond 150o°C (302o°F). Design recommendations are provided for estimating reductions in the residual bond of the GFRP system exposed to elevated temperatures.

The paper presents a comparative study on the seismic behavior of circular columns reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) and steel. The study specifically investigates the influence of replacing steel bars with GFRP bars on columns’ seismic response. All the studies summarized in this article were conducted at the University of Toronto. Results from the tests of 24 columns (all having 356 mm diameter and tested in a similar manner) from three different studies are closely analyzed to compare their responses. Based on the experimental results, it is found that replacing steel spirals with GFRP spirals did not result in substantial variation in the seismic performance of columns. Both types demonstrated similar ductility parameters and drift ratios when similar amounts of spirals were used at comparable pitches. Likewise, columns with steel longitudinal reinforcement and GFRP longitudinal reinforcement achieved similar displacement ductility, energy dissipation, and drift ratio.

The influence of alkaline aging on the basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bar reinforced concrete beam has not been thoroughly investigated, and the deterioration level can be further increased in seawater sea sand concrete (SSC) due to increased alkalinity. This study aims to unveil the coupled influence mechanism of accelerated sweater aging and impact loading on the impact resilience of BFRP-SSC beams. The influence of concrete strength, reinforcement ratio, falling weight height, and accelerated aging in seawater on the impact resistance of BFRP-SSC beam is examined. The results indicate that enhancing concrete strength can more obviously increase the peak impact force than enhancing the reinforcement ratio due to the higher strain rate sensitivity. The increased falling weight energy can increase the peak impact force while reducing the residual bearing capacity. The accelerated aging in seawater can reduce the peak impact force and increase the maximum midspan displacement. And the impact failure mode of the BFRP-SSC beam can be changed from concrete crushing to BFRP bar fracture due to the bar degradation. The peak impact force of beam specimens soaked in seawater at room temperature and 55°C conditions is reduced by 13.8% and 15.5%, while the maximum midspan displacements are increased by 32.2% and 47.1%, respectively. This study can serve as a solid base for the impact design of FRP bar reinforced seawater sea-sand and concrete beams.