Experimental investigation into a ductile FRP stay-in-place formwork system for concrete slabs

This paper presents the findings of an experimental investigation into a novel FRP stay-in-place (SIP) structural formwork system for concrete slabs with particular emphasis on its ability to exhibit ductility. The system consists of a moulded Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) grating bonded to square pultruded GFRP box sections as structural stay-in-place formwork for a concrete slab. Holes cut into the top flange of the box sections at a variable spacing allow concrete GFRP dowels to be inserted to act as shear studs. Experimental results indicate that the proposed shear connection provides robustness and ductility to the system, thus helping to solve the notorious ductility issue associated with construction using FRP materials.