SMART, PSEUDO-DUCTILE, REINFORCING RODS FOR CONCRETE: MANUFACTURE AND TEST

Abstract

Methods of manufacturing and testing smart, pseudo-ductile reinforcing rods for concrete are described in this paper. The pultruded rods consisted of unidirectional, hybrid fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composite materials. Fibers included in the investigation were carbon, glass, aramid and polyvinyl alcohol, in various proportions. The relatively high stiffness, low failure strain, and low electrical resistance of the carbon fibers were used to add stiffness and detect the onset of failure in the rods during monotonic tensile loading. Fiber selection, handling and placement as well as electrical connection and gripping of the rods during tensile tests are described. Primary tensile test results such as load, strain and resistance were compared with acoustic emission data in a limited number of tests.