Abstract:The rule of mixtures (ROM) method is often used to estimate the tensile strength of fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) reinforcing bars (rebars). Generally, the ROM method predicts the FRP rebars' modulus of elasticity adequately but overestimates their tensile strength. This may result from defects occurred during manufacture that prevent the used materials from exhibiting a sound performance and the shear-lag phenomenon by transmission of external forces through the surface of the rebar having a circular cross section. Due to the latter, there is a difference in fiber breaking points regarding the fibers located on the surface and fibers located at the center, and thus results in differences between the values calculated from the conventional ROM and the experimental result. In this study, for the purpose of resolving the problem, glass FRP (GFRP) rebars were shaped to have a hollow section at the center of their cross sections and were further subject to tensile strength tests. The test results were further placed under regression analysis and a modified ROM within ±5% accuracy compared to the experimental value was proposed for GFRP rebars with 13, 16, and 19 mm diameters.

ABSTRACT： In this study, the Charpy impact test along with metallurgical observation was conducted to evaluate low temperature impact toughness of structural steel welds with different welding processes to find out the optimal welding process to guarantee the required impact toughness at low temperatures. The welding processes employed are shield metal arc welding (SMAW) and flux cored arc welding(FCAW), which are commonly used welding methods in construction. The Charpy impact test is a commercial quality control test for steels and other alloys used in the construction of metallic structures. The test allows the material properties for service conditions to be determined experimentally in a simple manner with a very low cost. To investigate the impact toughness at low temperatures of the steel welds, specimens were extracted from the weld metal and the heat affected zone. Standard V-notch Charpy specimens were prepared and tested under dynamic loading condition. The low temperature impact performance was evaluated based on the correlation between the absorbed energy and the microstructure. Analysis of the results showed that the optimal welding process to ensure the higher low temperature impact toughness of the HAZ and the weld metal is SMAW process using the welding consumable for steels targeted to low temperature use.