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Introduction
In some specific applications, the use of steel-reinforced concrete is associated with significant corrosion maintenance costs. When reinforcing steel bars corrode, a noticeable reduction in tensile strength capacity and deterioration in the bond between concrete and steel bars occur, resulting in a section of reduced capacity (Bilcik and Holly, 2013). Hence, the requirement for replacement or strengthening becomes an unavoidable necessity. In order to overcome the corrosion problem, an alternative approach, which has gained some recognition around the world, is the use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars. Glass (GFRP) and carbon (CFRP) bars are the most common types. Recently, basalt (BFRP) bars have been used in the field of civil engineering construction. Due to its low cost compared to other fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) and appropriate mechanical properties, GFRP composites and hybrid GFRP composite systems have been investigated thoroughly by many researchers with the intention of being used in other structural engineering applications, such as bridge decks and building floor slabs (Zuo et al., 2018; Xin et al., 2017; Al Ramahee et al., 2017).
Numerous types of short fibers are available in the market for structural engineering applications, such as polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene (PE), steel, glass, aramid (Kevlar) and carbon. Currently, many structures containing different volume fractions (Vf) of randomly dispersed short fibers have been built. Among these structures are: Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations in France, IKEA Logistics Center-Dortmund in Germany, Oceanographic Restaurant in Spain, National Museum of Qatar in Qatar and Intermodal hall of Saint-Jean Station in France. The addition of moderate-dose randomly dispersed short fibers (0.5–1.0% by volume fraction) to FRP concrete is associated with many advantages, regardless of the concrete's grade or reinforcement type. Among these advantages are the increase of the ultimate tensile strength of the concrete by the bridging mechanism, improve the flexural ductility associated with the use of FRP bars, reduce the flexure crack growth and widening and enhance the concrete compressive properties by increasing the ultimate compressive strain (εcu) (Issa et al., 2011; Wang and Belarbi, 2011).
Deterministic analysis techniques fail to measure the absolute safety for the design service life of structural members due to the inherited uncertainties associated with load effects,...