monotonic and cyclic loading of new frp reinforced concrete cantilever beams

frps (fiber reinforced polymer) possess many favorable characteristics suitable and applicable for construction industry when compared with steel reinforcement. there are new ideas to use frps as longitudinal or transverse reinforcement for new concrete elements particularly for bridge decks or beams. although high tensile strength of frp is main characteristic for applications at both areas, its weakness to bending and linear stress-strain behavior with virtually no ductility, makes it vulnerable to probably premature failures under reversal tension-compression loading during earthquake. a pilot research project has been conducted to explore the characteristics of large-scale cantilever concrete beams reinforced with frp re-bars and grids and were tested under either simulated cyclic loading or monotonically increasing lateral loading. this paper presents the test parameters and results obtained during research. the analytical relationships are compared with those recorded experimentally, and test results showed the diagonal cracks and either rupturing of frp bars in tension or stability failure in compression bars at long or short shear span beams. the comparison of nominal moment capacities between analytical and experimental values confirms that plane section analysis is applicable to frp reinforced concrete members.