1. Fibreglass GFRP Rebar for Concrete Reinforcement
An Introduction into Applications for Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) Rebar
5522 – 36 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T6B 3P3
T:780 – 448 – 9338
F:780 – 448 – 9338
1–888–99–REBAR(73227)

2. Production Brow, Penobsquis, New Brunswick
HISTORY
In 1997, Dywidag-Systems International (DSI) contacted BP Automation to develop a threaded fibreglass rebar system.
In 1999, the company developed threaded fibreglass manufacturing equipment.
In 2000, BP Composites was formed to supply the mining industry with fibreglass rebar and rock bolts.
Production Brow, Penobsquis, New Brunswick

3. Spalling on bridge girder
ISIS 1995
In 1995 the Canadian Government formed the Intelligent Sensing for Innovative Structures (ISIS) to find a solution to the crumbling infrastructure of North America.
Consisting of 14 Universities and 22 Researchers with a 15 year mandate to publish the CSA code
Spalling on bridge girder

4. CONCRETE HISTORY
Romans are the pioneers of the concrete revolution. Their structures have lasted close to 2000 years.
Pantheon, Rome; Constructed ~126AD; worlds largest unreinforced dome.

5. PROBLEM IS STEEL
Reinforced Concrete with Steel Rebar is the cause of the failing infrastructure
Steel rebar has been used since the early 1900’s
Steel expands 10x in volume when it rusts, and causes concrete to crack and fail
Iron Oxide
Iron

6. STEEL CORROSION

7. CORROSION Epoxy Coated Steel: Corrodes Galvanized Steel: Corrodes
Stainless Steel: Susceptible
Cracking with Epoxy Coated Steel, 19 Year Old Ontario Bridge, MTO 2005
Failure with Stainless Steel, Roof of 13 Year Old Swimming Pool Collapses, Switzerland
Cracking with Galvanized Steel, 23 Yr Old Ontario Bridge, MTO 2007
Rusting Stainless Steel in Bridge Install
Anthony Henday, Edmonton AB

8. ISIS DURABILITY REPORT
Core-samples from Five Bridges using GFRP were analyzed in High Corrosion Environments, in two studies 5 years apart; the samples were sent to 4 different laboratories for evaluation, using different test methods; the bridges were in service up to 13 years.
Joffre Bridge, Sherbrooke, QC, 12 years
Crowchild Trail Bridge, Calgary, AB, 13 years (pictured)
Hall's Harbour Wharf, Hall's Harbour, NS, 10 years
Waterloo Creek Bridge, Vancouver Island, BC, 11 years
Chatham Bridge, Chatham, ON, 13 years
Rigorous testing has concluded:
100+ Year Life Expectancy for GFRP Reinforced Structures.

9. ISIS BRIDGE TEST RESULTS
No Degradation in GFRP Reinforcement
Excellent Bonding
No Debonding
No Microcracking
No Voids
No Glass Transition
No Resin Microcracking
No Glass Fibre Degradation
No Significant Delamination
No Resin Degradation
No Chemical Degradation
No Hydrolysis
Excellent Bonding
NO DEBONDING 
NO MICROCRACKING
NO VOIDS
NO RESIN MICROCRACKING
NO GLASS FIBRE DEGRADATION
NO SIGNIFICANT DELAMINATION/DEBONDING 
NO GLASS TRANSITION
NO SIGN OF CHEMICAL DEGRADATION  OF THE RESIN
NO CHEMICAL DEGRADATION (HYDROLYSIS)

10. ISIS FATIGUE RESISTANCE
Steel: cycles
GFRP: cycles
Lasts 20x Longer under cyclic Loads
Truck Traffic, Wave Action, Seismic
60 Ton Loading Fixture
A. El-Ragaby , E. F. El-Salakawy and B. Benmokrane

11. THINGS TO KNOW Glass Creep Modulus of Elasticity Elongation
Ultimate Tensile Strength
Glass Creep
GFRP not recommended for:
Pre-Tensioning
Post-Tensioning
Dead Loads (max 25% UTS)
Modulus of Elasticity
¼ that of Steel
Cantilevering Loads
Elongation
Elongates Linearly 2%
Not Ductile
Yield Point
TUF-BAR™ Rebar is not recommended for pre-tensioning or post-tensioning
Glass creep effect limits the rating of the bar to 25% of ultimate strength
Lower Modulus
Additional reinforcement required in cantilevering loads compared to steel.
Not suitable for constant dead loading applications
Not a direct substitution for steel. Need to design specifically for application
Elongation
Steel Designs to Yield
GFRP elongates to 2%
2% Elastic Deformation, Steel is till Yield
Dr. Roger Cheng from U of A explains that you design for deformability of the structure whereas with steel you design for ductility of the reinforcement

12. THINGS TO KNOW 𝑤 𝑐𝑟 =2 𝑓 𝐹𝑅𝑃 𝐸 𝐹𝑅𝑃 ℎ 2 ℎ 1 𝑘 𝑏 𝑑 𝑐 2 + 𝑠/2 2
High Embedment Strength
Rough Surface
Sand Coating
Kb Factor
Crack Width < in
Sand Coating Kb = 0.8
20% Less Bar Required
TUF-BAR® Sand Coating
TUF-BAR™ Rebar is not recommended for pre-tensioning or post-tensioning
Glass creep effect limits the rating of the bar to 25% of ultimate strength
Lower Modulus
Additional reinforcement required in cantilevering loads compared to steel.
Not suitable for constant dead loading applications
Not a direct substitution for steel. Need to design specifically for application
Elongation
Steel Designs to Yield
GFRP elongates to 2%
2% Elastic Deformation, Steel is till Yield
Dr. Roger Cheng from U of A explains that you design for deformability of the structure whereas with steel you design for ductility of the reinforcement
𝑤 𝑐𝑟 =2 𝑓 𝐹𝑅𝑃 𝐸 𝐹𝑅𝑃 ℎ 2 ℎ 1 𝑘 𝑏 𝑑 𝑐 𝑠/2 2

13. ISIS In 2001, ISIS Canada published guidelines for building with GFRP
In 2006, ISIS Canada developed a Product Specification Manual for GFRP reinforcement for civil application.

14. ISIS
In 2007, ISIS encouraged BP Composites to develop a family of GFRP rebar suitable for civil infrastructure.

15. GFRP CODES
2002 CSA code for “Design and Construction of Building Components with Fibre-Reinforced Polymers”
CSA-S806
2006 CSA Highway Bridge Design Code updated for GFRP
CSA-S6-06
Canada
CAN/CSA-S6-06 (2006) “Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code” Canadian Standards Association, 800p
CAN/CSA-S (R2007) “Design and Construction of Building Components with Fibre-Reinforced Polymers”
USA
ACI 440.1R-06 (2006) “Guide for the Design and Construction of Structural Concrete Reinforced with FRP Bars”

16. USA GFRP DESIGN GUIDELINES
2006 ACI 440 Guide for Structural Concrete Reinforced with FRP Bars
ACI 440.1R
2009 AASHTO Bridge Design Guide for GFRP-Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks and Traffic Railings
AASHTO GFRP-1

17. CSA-S807: Manufacturing Requirements for GFRP Rebar
2010 CSA-S807 Code Specifications for FRP Rebar:
Mechanical Properties
Physical Properties
Durability Properties
Material Requirements:
Vinyl Ester Resin
E-type Glass or E-CR Fibreglass
USA, ACI Equivalent: ACI 440.6R (2008)

18. CSA-S807: Mechanical Properties
(Straight & Bent Bars)
Cross-Sectional Area
Tensile Strength
Modulus of Elasticity
Ultimate Elongation
Bond Strength
Transverse Shear Strength
Cold Temperature Tensile Properties
Flexural Modulus and Strength
TUF-BAR® Tensile Strength Testing

19. CSA-S807: Physical Properties
Fibre Content
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
Longitudinal & Transverse
Density
Void Content
Water Absorption
Cure Ratio
Glass Transition Temperature
TUF-BAR® Creep Rupture Strength Test

20. CSA-S807 Durability Properties
Alkali Resistance in High pH Solution (60C 3 months 14 pH)
With Load
Without Load
Creep
Test Creep at 10,000 Hr
Creep Rupture Strength
Extrapolate Creep failure to 1 million Hr
Must hold >35% 1 million Hr
TUF-BAR® Creep Rupture Strength Test

21. COST SAVINGS Minimal Concrete Cover Fewer Concrete Additives
No Concrete Treatments
No Protective Membranes
No Rebar Coating Repairs
Lightweight
Lower Transport Costs
Less Handling
Less Injuries (WCB/OSHA)
Fast Installation
Cuts with Chop Saw or Grinding Disc in Seconds
TUF-BAR® Grid
Grinding Cutter, Diamond-Bladed Chop Saw or Hacksaw. (No Shears)
Vinyl Coated tie wire or zip ties
Approx. 40 x Bar Diameter = Splice Length.
No Mechanical Fasteners or Welded Splices
No Patching or Corrosion Treatment

22. TUF-BAR® in an MRI Facility
Other Features
Thermal Isolator
Non-Conductive
Non-Magnetic
Sizes #2-#8, 6mm-25mm
Standard/Custom Lengths
Shapes
Bends
Coils 25mm bar)
TUF-BAR® in an MRI Facility

23. TUF-BAR® in Pre-fab Bridge Deck Slabs
Canada Green Building Council Member
TUF-BAR® is 100% recyclable
TUF-BAR® contributes:
6 LEED® Credits in Canada
7 LEED® Credits in USA
Change LEED symbol to darker green, and match LEED text Blue 293, Pantone green 347
TUF-BAR® in Pre-fab Bridge Deck Slabs

24. COMPARISON: Steel vs TUF-BAR®
Black Steel
Stainless Steel
TUF-BAR®
Price
10x Black Steel
2x Black Steel
≃ Galvanized Steel
≃ Epoxy Coated Steel
Corrosion
Susceptible
Non-Susceptible
Weight
1/4 of Steel
Tensile Strength
2x Steel/Stainless
Modulus
200 GPa
40, 60 GPa
Bond Strength
8-11 MPa
14 MPa
Thermal Conductivity
Yes No
Electrical Conductivity
Magnetic

25. LIFE CYCLE COST ANALYSIS
Composites Innovation Centre University of Manitoba:
GFRP 70% cost savings over 100 years
Repairs start in years
More expensive as time goes on
Corrosion & Spalling

26. CONCLUSIONS Save Money with GFRP Codes are Published
“If you look at the full life cycle cost, GFRP is far more cost-effective than metallic reinforcement”
- Dr. Brahim Benmokrane NSERC Industry Research Chair
Save Money with GFRP
Codes are Published
Live without Corrosion
100+ Years Sustainability
Research teams recommend: That GFRP Be allowed as the Primary Reinforcement
CAN/CSA-S6-06 “Canadian Highway Bridge Code”December 2008), 800p.
CAN/CSA-S (R2007)“ Construction of Building Components with Fibre-Reinforced Polymers" Product Number 
Update No. 3 was published as notification; it is now a National Standard of Canada.
"If you look at the full life cycle cost, GFRP is far more cost-effective than metallic reinforcement.” Dr.Brahim Benmokrane Chair NSER Council of Canada

27. Bridge that didn’t use TUF-BAR®
DESIGN WITH TUF-BAR®
BP Composites Ltd.
(T):
(F):
REBAR(73227)
Bridge that didn’t use TUF-BAR®