What is it about?

In recent decades, corrosion in steel reinforcement has been one of the fundamental risks in steel-reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Geosynthetics can be an alternative approach to solve corrosion problems. The current experimental research work investigates the structural performance of geogrid-reinforced concrete (GRC) elements. Initially, five different geotextiles and biaxial geogrid materials were selected and embedded in the concrete specimens separately to study their mechanical properties. The results of the testing showed that the geogrid embedded specimen behaved more mechanically than the conventional concrete (CC) specimens due to increased bonding characteristics. The limiting moment and load-carrying capacities of the RC and GRC beams were determined with reference to limit state design principles. In order to compare the structural performance of the beams, two RC beams and two GRC beams with the size of 150 mm × 300 mm × 2100 mm were cast. The structural performances in terms of the load-carrying capacity, energy absorption, stiffness degradation, and ductility were examined. The results of the tests indicated that even though the load-carrying capacity of the GRC beams was slightly lower, they demonstrated enhanced performance by 42%, 40%, and 68% higher in the energy absorption, stiffness degradation, and ductility, respectively, than those of the RC beams on average. The augmented inelastic performance and better bonding properties of the GRC beams aid in noticeable structural performance.

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Why is it important?

The utilization of geogrids in concrete structures provides a new path for employing geosynthetics in structural elements. Geogrids are being used as reinforcement for asphalt concrete layers, stabilization and confinement of soil retaining structures, and also to reduce the progressive cracking in pavement. The inclusion of a biaxial geogrid in infrastructures is a pioneering evolution in concrete. Geogrid is one of the varieties of geosynthetics, and all these varieties mainly consist of polymeric compounds. It might be polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene, and are broadly employed in geotechnical structures to afford tensile reinforcement. Geogrids are two-dimensional planar polymeric structures made up of a mesh-like network of interconnected tensile elements known as ribs. Extrusion, bonding, or interlacing are used to connect the ribs, which have holes or apertures. The geogrids are categorized as either uniaxial or biaxial. Uniaxial geogrids are mainly utilized for retaining walls and steep slope separation.

Perspectives

he geosynthetic materials were investigated in this study as an alternative for the steel reinforcements in the RC beams. The tensile strength of the utilized geosynthetics in concrete created an alternative look for the application of geosynthetics. The physical and mechanical properties of different geosynthetic specimens were tested, and Mu lim values for the RC and GRC beams were also derived using the limit state principle. The following conclusions were drawn from the research results. The load versus deflection performance of the GRC beams was enriched up to the elastic limit, however, the inelastic load versus deflection performance at the inelastic stage of the GRC beams was marginal compared with that of the RC beams. The fully plasticized geogrid reinforcements provided in the GRC beams resulted in more excessive deflection than the RC beams resulting in the marginal load versus deflection behavior, particularly in the inelastic stages.

Prof Gobinath R
S R Engineering College

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This page is a summary of: Structural Behavior of Concrete Beams Reinforced with Biaxial Geogrid, Buildings, April 2023, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/buildings13051124.
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