Tensile strength retention of glass fibre-reinforced stirrups subjected to aggressive solutions: effect of environmental condition, stirrup shape and stirrup diameter

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine how the tensile strength of glass fibre reinforced polymer stirrups is affected by different types of solutions, including alkaline, seawater, tap water, and acidic solutions. The study involved the production and testing of 260 stirrups in two different shapes (L and U) with diameters of 6 and 8 mm. The stirrups were immersed in different solutions for a period of 9 months at different temperatures (25, 40, and 60 °C). The findings indicated that the alkaline solution was the most aggressive environment, resulting in a maximum reduction of 92% in tensile strength after 9 months at 60 °C. Seawater and acidic solutions were the second and third most aggressive environments, causing maximum tensile strength reductions of 34 and 22% respectively, after 9 months at 60 °C. On the other hand, tap water was found to be the least aggressive environment, causing a maximum tensile strength reduction of 20% after 9 months at 60 °C. Furthermore, the study observed that the L-shaped stirrups exhibited slightly superior performance compared to the U-shaped stirrups. However, the diameter of the stirrups was found to be a negligible factor.

Assessment of Environmental Impact on Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Pipes Mechanical and Thermal Properties

“…At 20 • C, the UTS slightly improves to 75.50 MPa with an even higher tensile modulus of 13.32 GPa. These results align with the findings in paper [27], which demonstrate that environmental changes from tap water to seawater or alkaline solutions significantly impact tensile strength. Notably, both studies indicate that alkaline environments exert the most substantial effect on reducing tensile strength.…”

“…Similarly, the data from [47] showed that temperature significantly impacts the compressive and tensile strength properties of the GFRP material. Our conclusion also aligns with the findings from paper [27], namely, that temperature significantly impacts the strength properties of GFRP materials (p-value < 0.05). The referenced paper [27] also shows that changing the environment from tap water to seawater or alkaline solutions significantly affects tensile strength retention, with alkaline environments having the most substantial The large bar for factor A indicates that temperature significantly affects UTS.…”

“…Our conclusion also aligns with the findings from paper [27], namely, that temperature significantly impacts the strength properties of GFRP materials (p-value < 0.05). The referenced paper [27] also shows that changing the environment from tap water to seawater or alkaline solutions significantly affects tensile strength retention, with alkaline environments having the most substantial The large bar for factor A indicates that temperature significantly affects UTS. Similarly, the data from [47] showed that temperature significantly impacts the compressive and tensile strength properties of the GFRP material.…”

“…Our conclusion also aligns with the findings from paper [27], namely, that temperature significantly impacts the strength properties of GFRP materials (p-value < 0.05). The referenced paper [27] also shows that changing the environment from tap water to seawater or alkaline solutions significantly affects tensile strength retention, with alkaline environments having the most substantial impact (97.8%). This highlights the vulnerability of GFRP composites to alkaline conditions.…”