Thermoplastic Rebar Durability Study

There is a need for non-corroding reinforcement of concrete. A significant shortcoming of commercially available thermoset pultruded rebar is that it cannot be field bent after initial fabrication, and common configurations such as hooked bars, stirrups and spirals must be created during the primary manufacturing process. This limits adaptability during construction and increases cost. A new thermoplastic composite pultrusion process has been implemented at the University of Maine (UMaine) Advanced Structures and Composites Center using a Continuous Forming Machine (CFM). The CFM has been fitted with dies to manufacture thermoplastic composite rebar with continuous fiber reinforcement for internal reinforcing of concrete. This thermoplastic composite rebar is also amenable to the creation of surface deformations using stamp forming and can be bent after manufacture. Surface modifications to the thermoplastic rebar can develop shear transfer capability through interfacial adhesion and interlocking with concrete comparable to steel rebar. A requirement for the adoption of the thermoplastic composite rebar is to have a database of material properties including strength and elastic modulus retention factors based on accelerated durability tests for simulated environmental conditions.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • • MaineDOT Share – $100,000 (SPR Funds) • UMaine Share (through TIDC grant) - $495,086

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $595,086.00
• Sponsor Organizations:

  University of Maine, Orono

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
  5717 Corbett Hall
  Orono, ME  United States  04469-5711

  Maine Department of Transportation

  16 Statehouse Station
  Augusta, ME  United States  04333-0016
• Managing Organizations:

  Maine Department of Transportation

  16 Statehouse Station
  Augusta, ME  United States  04333-0016
• Project Managers:

  Pulver, Jeffrey

• Performing Organizations:

  Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center

  University of Maine
  Orono, ME  United States  04469
• Principal Investigators:

  Lopez-Anido, Roberto

• Start Date: 20250602
• Expected Completion Date: 20251031
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Durability tests; Mechanical tests; Reinforcing bars; Strength of materials; Thermoplastic materials
• Geographic Terms: Maine
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01959903
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Maine Department of Transportation
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 2 2025 9:09AM