Comparative Study of Steel-FRP, FRP and Steel-Reinforced Coral Concrete Beams in Their Flexural Performance

In this study, a comparative study of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) bar and steel–carbon fiber composite bar (SCFCB) reinforced coral concrete beams was made through a series of experimental tests and theoretical analyses. The flexural capacity, crack development and failure modes of CFRP and SCFCB-reinforced coral concrete were investigated in detail. They were also compared to ordinary steel-reinforced coral concrete beams. The results show that under the same conditions of reinforcement ratios, the SCFCB-reinforced beams exhibit better performance than CFRP-reinforced beams, and stiffness is slightly lower than that of steel-reinforced beams. Under the same load conditions, the crack width of SCFCB beams was between that of steel-reinforced beams and CFRP bar-reinforced beams. Before the steel core yields, the crack growth rate of SCFCB beam is similar to the steel-reinforced beams. SCFCB has a higher strength utilization rate—about 70–85% of its ultimate strength. Current design guidance was also examined based on the test results. It was found that the existing design specifications for FRP-reinforced normal concrete is not suitable for SCFCB-reinforced coral concrete structures.