Preliminary Quality Control/Quality Assurance Standards (Criteria) for Inspection and Testing of FRP Bars (9-1520-P1)

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) are being increasingly used in the construction industry. One application is to use FRP bars as reinforcement in concrete. Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars have been the focus of recent research because in corrosive environments they do not produce expansive corrosion products and the resulting concrete cracking and spalling associated with conventional steel reinforcement. Also, the initial cost of GFRP bars is lower than carbon FRP bars. During this research project, one challenge encountered with the use of GFRP bars was that limited guidance was available on what quality control and quality assurance parameters should be inspected. Also during this research project, standard testing procedures to assess key characteristics were only available in the Japanese literature. Thus, one objective of this research project was to provide guidance for the user on the following issues: 1) how to assess and test GFRP bars characteristics; and 2) how to assure that certain minimum quality levels have been achieved. This report provides this information.