Long-term durability of basalt- and glass-fibre reinforced polymer (BFRP/GFRP) bars in seawater and sea sand concrete environment

This paper presents a study on the long-term performance of basalt- and glass-fibre reinforced polymer (BFRP/GFRP) bars in seawater and sea sand concrete (SWSSC) environment. Accelerated corrosion tests were conducted using two types of SWSSC solutions at different pH and temperatures, and for different durations. The tensile tests of pre-exposed bars suggested the GFRP bars to be more durable than BFRP bars, while the Young's modulus of all specimens remained unchanged. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray computed tomography (CT) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) results were utilized to explain the damage mechanism. The long-term behaviour of BFRP and GFRP bars under the service construction condition was also predicted using Arrhenius degradation theory.