Novel structural systems and materials for concrete construction

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The proposed research program aims at advancing concrete construction. The outcomes of this research will impact safety, durability and constructability of future concrete infrastructure. Structural concrete is the most utilized building material in the world and considering that most people spend majority of their time and daily activities in the built environment, it is logical that infrastructure accounts for at least 3.5% of GDP in most countries and around 8% in Canada. Therefore, research on functional, energy efficient and safe infrastructure is of strategic importance. This research addresses design of concrete members under gravity and seismic loads, new concepts for reinforcing concrete flat slabs supported on columns in seismic regions, concrete members reinforced using fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) reinforcements, testing protocols for FRP bars, and novel hybrid system for concrete frames for seismic applications. Laboratory testing, theoretical, and numerical research will be undertaken, providing excellent training opportunities for a new generation of engineers. The concrete slab research will focus on novel punching shear reinforcing system, which provides ductility and allows energy dissipation during earthquakes. Special flexible shear reinforcing solution will be developed. Large-scale laboratory testing will be followed by finite element analysis (FEA) and parametric studies to extend the experimental results and allow proposing design methodologies. Utilization of glass FRP (GFRP) reinforcements for concrete has been driven primarily by problems with corrosion of steel reinforcements. GFRP bars are strong but brittle and thus GFRP reinforced concrete members behave differently than traditional steel reinforced members; they rely on concrete to provide ductility. Nonlinear FEA studies and mechanical modelling of GFRP reinforced concrete using strut-and tie approach will be done. Material testing protocols will be researched in order to simplify testing and provide practical means for assessment of bars' quality. Non-destructive durability assessments will be correlated with mechanical long-term testing. Seismic application of GFRP bars will be studied in an innovative concept of hybrid steel-GFRP sections for creating predetermined hinges in concrete frame buildings in seismic zones. The concept has been investigated theoretically and shows great practical potential. A laboratory testing program is planned to include continuous hybrid concrete beams with various arrangement of steel and GFRP reinforcements. The possibility of utilizing fibre reinforced concretes (FRC) with GFRP reinforcements will be investigated to create corrosion resistant and ductile concrete slab-column connections. Such hybrid steel-GFRP concrete systems can be practical as corrosion resistant systems for structures and bridges in Canada, in cold climate countries, and in coastal regions affected by oceanic salt water.