Innovative Lightweight Concrete (LWC) for Precast Structures

This paper reports a study based upon experimental investigation, which evaluates the flexural behavior of lightweight concrete (LWC) beams reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. Three reinforced concrete (RC) beam specimens (200 mm wide x 300 mm high x 3,100 long) were fabricated and tested under four-point bending up to failure. Two specimens were made with LWC while one specimen was made with normal weight concrete (NWC) as a reference specimen. The test variables were concrete density (LWC and NWC) and longitudinal GFRP reinforcement ratio. The beam test results are introduced and discussed in terms of cracking behavior, deflection, and failure modes. The experimental results show that the LWC and NWC beam specimens failed as a result of concrete crushing. The normalized moment capacity of the GFRP-reinforced LWC beam specimens was not significantly influenced compared to the GFRP-reinforced NWC counterpart.