The College of Engineering at the University of Baghdad witnessed the public discussion of the master’s student (Mohannad Abdulkhaliq Ali) from the Civil Engineering Department on his thesis entitled (Behavior of One-Way Concrete Bubbled Slabs Reinforced by GFRP Materials) on Thursday, 12/9/2024, in Prof. Dr. Khaled Shaker Hall. Under the supervision of (Prof. Dr. Ali Hussein Ali Al-Ahmed).
The research aims are guided by two main objectives: the first is to investigate the influence of GFRP reinforcement in bubbled slabs on the ultimate load, stiffness, and deformations, and the second is to illustrate the impact of strengthening through the use of a steel I-sections as internal reinforcing in bubbled slabs.
The study included experimental work on ten concrete slabs with different variables, including the type of slab (solid or bubbled), the reinforcement ratio of GFRP bars, and the presence of internally embedded steel I-sections with the presence or absence of channel shear connectors. The results of the reinforced bubbled slabs were compared with reference slabs (unreinforced solid and bubbled slabs), where the results showed a significant improvement for the bubbled slabs reinforced with steel I-sections by increasing the ultimate load, stiffness, and shear resistance, and reducing the deflection and cracking compared to the unreinforced bubbled and solid slabs. Thus, the weight of the slab was reduced by the presence of voids and the use of GFRP bars instead of steel, which is characterized by its lightweight by four times compared to steel bars, while at the same time improving the performance of the bubbled slabs.
Accordingly, the research came out with a set of recommendations, including:
- Studying the structural behavior of bubbled one-way slabs with openings.
- Study the strengthening of bubbled slabs subjected to increased loading by carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP).
- Studying the structural behavior of bubbled slabs with different bar reinforcements such as (Carbon fiber reinforcement bars).
- Study the behavior and strength of the bubbled slabs under the effect of blast loading.
- Studying the effect of fire on bubbled one-way slabs reinforced by GFRP bars.
