Proposed Design Equations for Lap Splice of Glass Fiber- Reinforced Polymer Bars under Compression in Concrete.

This paper presents the results of an experimental and analytical investigation of the splice length of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars under compression in concrete. The experimentation comprises 29 full-scale circular concrete columns. The experimental parameters evaluated in this study were composed of the compressive strength of concrete, bar diameter, splice length, and amount of transverse reinforcement. The experimental results indicated that the requisite splice length of GFRP bars would be less than that of steel. In addition, the bond strength of GFRP bars to concrete was improved by increasing the bar diameter of transverse reinforcement and compressive strength of concrete. Reducing the spacing of transverse reinforcement and longitudinal bar diameter can also lead to decreasing the splice length. However, splice length was independent of the ultimate strength of transverse reinforcement. The obtained experimental data of the present study was augmented with the results of 39 additional specimens collected from the literature to develop design recommendations for lap splicing of GFRP bars under compression. In addition, a relation for splice length was derived by applying methodologies similar to those already used for steel bars. The proposed equation for design purpose of the splice length of GFRP bars under compression was found to be in a reliable agreement with the available experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]