Experimental, numerical, and analytical study on lightweight concrete slabs with GFRP reinforcement and polypropylene fibers

This study investigates the flexural performance of lightweight concrete (LWC) slabs reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars and enhanced with polypropylene fibers (PPF). An experimental program involving nine slabs examined the effects of fiber content, aspect ratio, and reinforcement ratio. Nonlinear finite element analysis using ABAQUS and analytical methods based on ECP and ACI codes complemented the tests. Results show that GFRP reinforcement and PPF significantly improve ultimate load, toughness, and crack control, while parametric analysis confirms the influence of slab thickness and reinforcement ratio. Proposed design equations align closely with code predictions. The authors found that the solid slab's flexural strength increased by 36.34% when utilizing LWC and GFRP bars.