Experimental and analytical investigation of reinforced high strength concrete continuous beams strengthened with fiber reinforced polymer

Carbon and glass fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP and GFRP) are two materials suitable for strengthening the reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Although many in situ RC beams are of continuous constructions, there has been very limited research on the behavior of such beams with externally applied FRP laminate. In addition, most design guidelines were developed for simply supported beams with external FRP laminates. This paper presents an experimental program conducted to study the flexural behavior and redistribution in moment of reinforced high strength concrete (RHSC) continuous beams strengthened with CFRP and GFRP sheets. Test results showed that with increasing the number of CFRP sheet layers, the ultimate strength increases, while the ductility, moment redistribution, and ultimate strain of CFRP sheet decrease. Also, by using the GFRP sheet in strengthening the continuous beam reduced loss in ductility and moment redistribution but it did not significantly increase ultimate strength of beam. The moment enhancement ratio of the strengthened continuous beams was significantly higher than the ultimate load enhancement ratio in the same beam. An analytical model for moment–curvature and load capacity are developed and used for the tested continuous beams in current and other similar studies. The stress–strain curves of concrete, steel and FRP were considered as integrity model. Stress–strain model of concrete is extended from Oztekin et al.’s model by modifying the ultimate strain. Also, new parameters of equivalent stress block are obtained for flexural calculation of RHSC beams. Good agreement between experiment and prediction values is achieved.     

Structural behaviour of RC beams with external flexural and flexural–shear strengthening by FRP sheets

This paper presents experimental research on reinforced concrete (RC) beams with external flexural and flexural–shear strengthening by fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets consisting of carbon FRP (CFRP) and glass FRP (GFRP). The work carried out has examined both the flexural and flexural–shear strengthening capacities of retrofitted RC beams and has indicated how different strengthening arrangements of CFRP and GFRP sheets affect behaviour of the RC beams strengthened. Research output shows that the flexural–shear strengthening arrangement is much more effective than the flexural one in enhancing the stiffness, the ultimate strength and hardening behaviour of the RC beam. In addition theoretical calculations are developed to estimate the bending and shear capacities of the beams tested, which are compared with the corresponding experimental results.     

Behaviour of hybrid FRP–UHPC beams subjected to static flexural loading

This paper provides the experimental results of a new hybrid beam intended for use in bridge applications. The hybrid beams were made up of pultruded Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) hollow box section beams strengthened with a layer of Ultra-High-Performance-Concrete (UHPC) on top and either a sheet of Carbon FRP (CFRP) or Steel FRP (SFRP) on the bottom of the beam. Four hybrid FRP–UHPC beams were tested along with one control GFRP hollow box beam under four-point static flexural loading. Two types of beams were tested (Phase I and Phase II), which incorporated different connection mechanisms at the GFRP–UHPC interface. It was concluded that the hybrid beams had higher flexural strength and stiffness than the control beam, where the beams reinforced with SFRP showed greater percent cost effectiveness than beams reinforced with CFRP. In addition, the improved connection mechanism used in Phase II beams was found to provide adequate interface bond strength to maintain full composite action until ultimate failure.     

Behavior of full-scale reinforced concrete beams retrofitted for shear and flexural with FRP laminates

Four full-scale reinforced concrete beams were replicated from an existing bridge. The original beams were substantially deficient in shear strength, particularly for projected increase of traffic loads. Of the four replicate beams, one served as a control and the remaining three were implemented with varying configurations of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) and glass FRP (GFRP) composites to simulate the retrofit of the existing structure. CFRP unidirectional sheets were placed to increase flexural capacity and GFRP unidirectional sheets were utilized to mitigate shear failure. Four-point bending tests were conducted. Load, deflection and strain data were collected. Fiber optic gauges were utilized in high flexural and shear regions and conventional resistive gauges were placed in eighteen locations to provide behavioral understanding of the composite material strengthening. Fiber optic readings were compared to conventional gauges.Results from this study show that the use of fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) composites for structural strengthening provides significant static capacity increases approximately 150% when compared to unstrengthened sections. Load at first crack and post cracking stiffness of all beams was increased primarily due to flexural CFRP. Test results suggest that beams retrofit with both the designed GFRP and CFRP should well exceed the static demand of 658 kN m sustaining up to 868 kN m applied moment. The addition of GFRP alone for shear was sufficient to offset the lack of steel stirrups and allow conventional RC beam failure by yielding of the tension steel. This allowed ultimate deflections to be 200% higher than the pre-existing shear deficient beam. If bridge beams were retrofit with only the designed CFRP failure would still result from diagonal tension cracks, albeit at a 31% greater load. Beams retrofit with only the designed shear GFRP would fail in flexure at the mid-span at an equivalent 31% gain over the control specimen, failing mechanism in this case being yielding of the tension steel. Successful monitoring of strain using fiber optics was achieved. However, careful planning tempered by engineering judgement is necessary as the location and gauge length of the fiber optic gauge will determine the usefulness of the collected data.     

U形CFRP条带混锚加固混凝土梁抗剪试验

为解决纯粘贴U形纤维增强聚合物基复合材料（FRP）加固钢筋混凝土梁中FRP端部容易发生剥离破坏等问题,自主研发了对纤维布条带端部进行自锁锚固的方法和锚板,提出了端锚与粘贴并用的混锚U形条带抗剪加固方法。通过2根未加固梁、1根纯粘贴和2根混锚U形碳纤维增强聚合物基复合材料（CFRP）带抗剪加固梁的对比试验,证实了混锚抗剪加固的有效性：混锚能够对纤维带端部进行可靠锚固,阻止端部剥离破坏的发生,实现纤维拉断破坏,大幅度提高材料强度利用率。混锚加固在抑制混凝土梁斜裂缝开展、延缓箍筋屈服、提高箍筋和CFRP的极限应变以及提高抗剪承载力等多个方面的表现均明显优于纯粘贴加固。     

碳纤维布加固RC梁中粘结性能的非线性有限元分析

碳纤维布加固钢筋混凝土(RC)梁中,碳纤维布与梁底混凝土的剥离破坏使碳纤维布的强度不能得到充分发挥。分析碳纤维布与梁底混凝土的粘结应力,是研究碳纤维布加固剥离破坏承载力的基础问题。根据4根碳纤维布加固RC梁的试验研究结果,采用商业有限元程序MSC.Marc建立有限元模型,进行了非线性计算分析。通过分离总粘结应力中的局部粘结应力,得到粘结延伸长度范围内的锚固粘结应力分布,并结合试验数据对其分布规律进行了研究。根据分析和试验结果,引入了“有效锚固粘结长度”和“锚固粘结应力”的概念,给出了极限荷载下锚固粘结应力的计算建议。     

Flexural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams retrofitted with hybrid fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) under sustaining loads

This paper reports experimental studies of reinforced concrete (RC) beams retrofitted with new hybrid fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) system consisting carbon FRP (CFRP) and glass FRP (GFRP). The objective of this study is to examine effect of hybrid FRPs on structural behavior of retrofitted RC beams and to investigate if different sequences of CFRP and GFRP sheets of the hybrid FRPs have influences on improvement of strengthening RC beams. Toward that goal, 14 RC beams are fabricated and retrofitted with hybrid FRPs having different combinations of CFRP and GFRP sheets. The beams are loaded with different magnitudes prior to retrofitting in order to investigate the effect of initial loading on the flexural behavior of the retrofitted beam. The main test variables are sequences of attaching hybrid FRP layers and magnitudes of preloads. Under loaded condition, beams are retrofitted with two or three layers of hybrid FRPs, then the load increases until the beams reach failure. Test results conclude that strengthening effects of hybrid FRPs on ductility and stiffness of RC beams depend on orders of FRP layers.     

预应力FRP加固工程结构技术研究进展

围绕国内外预应力FRP加固技术的研究现状以及最新进展,从预应力FRP加固混凝土结构、预应力FRP加固钢结构、预应力FRP加固中关键技术的研究等方面进行了综述。试验研究表明：预应力FRP加固混凝土能显著提高构件的开裂荷载、屈服荷载和极限荷载,改善受弯构件在长期荷载的力学性能,提高构件的疲劳寿命;预应力CFRP加固钢梁后,其屈服荷载和极限荷载相对于对比梁都有明显的提高,其提高的程度随着预应力CFRP的用量和预应力水平的提高而增大;预应力CFRP加固对钢梁的刚度提高作用也比较明显,对低强度的钢材,提高效果更明显;采用预应力FRP加固工程结构的关键问题在于预应力的施加体系、预应力控制值、预应力损失和端部的锚固。     

Effect of steel and synthetic fibers on flexural behavior of high-strength concrete beams reinforced with FRP bars

Six high-strength concrete beam specimens reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars were constructed and tested. Three of the beams were reinforced with carbon FRP (CFRP) bars and the other three beams were reinforced with glass FRP (GFRP) bars as flexural reinforcements. Steel fibers and polyolefin synthetic fibers were used as reinforcing discrete fibers. An investigation was performed on the influence of the addition of fibers on load-carrying capacity, cracking response, and ductility. In addition, the test results were compared with the predictions for the ultimate flexural moment. The addition of fibers increased the first-cracking load, ultimate flexural strength, and ductility, and also mitigated the large crack width of the FRP bar-reinforced concrete beams.     

模拟不中断交通状况下粘贴碳纤维布加固钢筋混凝土梁试验研究

为了调查动荷载作用下碳纤维布与钢筋混凝土梁的粘贴性能及加固效果,进行了5根模拟交通荷载(等幅正弦波形动荷载)作用下粘贴碳纤维布加固钢筋混凝土梁和1根保持荷载下粘贴碳纤维布加固钢筋混凝土梁以及2根对比梁的试验研究。试验中考虑了混凝土等级、配筋率、有无锚固条、粘贴长度、荷载幅值5个变化参数。试验结果表明,在模拟交通荷载的作用下,碳纤维布加固的钢筋混凝土梁粘贴性能满足要求,粘贴效果良好。在模拟交通荷载后的静载作用下,试验梁的抗弯承载力提高较多,加固效果明显,进一步验证了粘贴效果。     

Analytical approach for the flexural analysis of RC beams strengthened with prestressed CFRP

The objective of this paper is to propose a simplified analytical approach to predict the flexural behavior of simply supported reinforced-concrete (RC) beams flexurally strengthened with prestressed carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcements using either externally bonded reinforcing (EBR) or near surface mounted (NSM) techniques. This design methodology also considers the ultimate flexural capacity of NSM CFRP strengthened beams when concrete cover delamination is the governing failure mode. A moment–curvature (M–χ) relationship formed by three linear branches corresponding to the precracking, postcracking, and postyielding stages is established by considering the four critical M–χ points that characterize the flexural behavior of CFRP strengthened beams. Two additional M–χ points, namely, concrete decompression and steel decompression, are also defined to assess the initial effects of the prestress force applied by the FRP reinforcement. The mid-span deflection of the beams is predicted based on the curvature approach, assuming a linear curvature variation between the critical points along the beam length. The good predictive performance of the analytical model is appraised by simulating the force–deflection response registered in experimental programs composed of RC beams strengthened with prestressed NSM CFRP reinforcements.     

Behavior and performance of RC T-section deep beams externally strengthened in shear with CFRP sheets

A series of experimental tests were carried out to investigate the behavior and performance of reinforced concrete (RC) T-section deep beams strengthened in shear with CFRP sheets. Key variables evaluated in this study were strengthening length, fiber direction combination of CFRP sheets, and an anchorage using U-wrapped CFRP sheets. A total of 14 RC T-section deep beams were designed to be deficient in shear with a shear span-to-effective depth ratio (a/d) of 1.22. Crack patterns and behavior of the tested deep beams were observed during four-point loading tests. Except the CS-FL-HP specimen, almost all strengthened deep beams showed a shear–compression failure due to partial delamination of the CFRP sheets. From the load–displacement (p–u) curves, the effects of key variables on the shear performance of the strengthened deep beams were addressed. It was concluded from the test results that the key variables of strengthening length, fiber direction combination, and anchorage have significant influence on the shear performance of strengthened deep beams. In addition, a series of comparative studies between the present experimental data and theoretical results in accordance with the commonly applied design codes were made to evaluate the shear strength of a control beam and deep beams strengthened with CFRP sheets.     

Deflection behaviour of FRP reinforced concrete beams and slabs: An experimental investigation

The flexural response of FRP RC elements is investigated through load–deflection tests on 24 RC beams and slabs with glass FRP (GFRP) and carbon FRP (CFRP) reinforcement covering a wide range of reinforcement ratios. Rebar and concrete strains around a crack inducer are used to establish moment–curvature relationships and evaluate the shear and flexural components of mid-span deflections. It is concluded that the contribution of shear and bond induced deformations can be of major significance in FRP RC elements having moderate to high reinforcement ratios. Existing equations to calculate short-term deflection of FRP RC elements are discussed and compared to experimental values.     

Impact resistant behaviour of RC slab strengthened with FRP sheet

To investigate the impact resistance of RC slabs strengthened with Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) sheet to the back of the slab, falling-weight impact tests were conducted. Two loading types were applied: iterative loading and single loading. The impact load was applied to the centre of the RC slab with a free falling 300 kg steel striker with a diameter of 60 mm. A total of 12 RC slabs that were 1,650 (L) × 1,650 (W) × 150 (h) mm were used for these experiments. In this study, the strengthening method and material properties of the FRP sheet and the number of FRP sheet layers were varied. The results obtained from this study are as follows: (1) the impact resistance of the RC slabs can be improved by attaching a strengthened FRP sheet to the back surfaces; (2) the load bearing mechanism of RC slabs depends on the loading type and strengthening volume of the FRP sheet; and (3) the dynamic amplification factor is about two, which is independent of the load bearing mechanism of the RC slab and the strengthening volume and tensile rigidity of the FRP sheet.     

恶劣环境下纤维增强聚合物片材拉伸性能

通过拉伸试验,研究了恶劣环境作用后纤维增强聚合物(FRP)片材的拉伸性能。试验参数包括恶劣环境类别和作用方式、FRP片材种类和层数。试验结果表明,常温环境下、冻融和干湿循环作用后,碳纤维增强聚合物(CFRP)片材和玻璃纤维增强聚合物(GFRP)片材的拉伸应力-应变关系近似为直线;常温环境下,CFRP片材和GFRP片材的拉伸强度和延伸率几乎不受片材层数的影响;冻融循环对GFRP片材的影响大于CFRP片材,冻融循环75次时,CFRP片材和GFRP片材的拉伸强度分别是未冻融的0.978倍和0.898倍,并且随着循环次数的增加,CFRP片材和GFRP片材拉伸强度逐渐下降;干湿循环作用对GFRP片材拉伸性能没有明显的影响。基于对有关文献及本文试验结果的分析,提出了恶劣环境下FRP片材拉伸强度的计算方法。     

碳纤维束铆钉锚固下CFRP布加固梁的力学性能

粘贴碳纤维布(CFRP)加固梁时,通常需对其进行锚固,避免发生因CFRP布过早剥离而无法充分利用其抗拉强度。但当梁施工空间较小,梁侧面形状不规则时,CFRP布锚固较困难,采用新型碳纤维束铆钉锚固的方式能够很好地解决这一弊端。本文通过对四组不同锚固方式下的CFRP布加固梁进行四点受弯承载力试验,对比分析加载过程中各梁的力学性能和破坏规律,研究表明碳纤维束铆钉锚固下CFRP布加固梁强度和刚度都有显著增强。进一步对碳纤维束铆钉锚固方法优化,得到最佳碳纤维束铆钉锚固深度约为80mm,最佳锚固间距约为200mm。     

Performance of reinforced concrete beams strengthened by hybrid FRP laminates

In the last two decades, the use of advanced composite materials such as Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) in strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) structural elements has been increasing. Research and design guidelines concluded that externally bonded FRP could increase the capacity of RC elements efficiently. However, the linear stress–strain characteristics of FRP up to failure and lack of yield plateau have a negative impact on the overall ductility of the strengthened RC elements. Use of hybrid FRP laminates, which consist of a combination of either carbon and glass fibers, or glass and aramid fibers, changes the behaviour of the material to a non-linear behaviour. This paper aims to study the performance of reinforced concrete beams strengthened by hybrid FRP laminates.

This paper presents an experimental program conducted to study the behaviour of RC beams strengthened with hybrid fiber reinforced polymer (HFRP) laminates. The program consists of a total of twelve T-beams with overall dimensions equal to 460 × 300 × 3250 mm. The beams were tested under cyclic loading up to failure to examine its flexural behaviour. Different reinforcement ratios, fiber directions, locations and combinations of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) laminates were attached to the beams to determine the best strengthening scheme. Different percentages of steel reinforcement were also used. An analytical model based on the stress–strain characteristics of concrete, steel and FRP was adopted. Recommendations and design guidelines of RC beams strengthened by FRP and HFRP laminates are introduced.     

预应力FRP加固混凝土结构技术研究与应用

介绍了笔者进行的预应力芳纶纤维布和碳纤维筋加固混凝土结构的一些主要研究成果,内容包括:预应力芳纶纤维布永久锚具的开发;预应力芳纶纤维布的应力松弛损失研究;预应力芳纶纤维布加固混凝土梁的受弯、受剪性能研究;温度对芳纶纤维布配套粘结材料的力学性能影响研究;体外预应力碳纤维筋局部加固混凝土梁的力学性能研究;碳纤维筋预应力粗纤维混凝土梁的抗震性能研究;预应力纤维布加固混凝土结构的工程应用等。     

Shear repair of RC beams using epoxy injection and hybrid external FRP

This experimental study aims at investigating the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened by unidirectional and hybrid bidirectional fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets and subjected to cyclic loading. RC beams tested under cycled loading were subsequently repaired using both epoxy injection and external FRP sheets, and then re-tested under monotonic loading. Six RC beam specimens, two of which were control specimens and four were shear deficient, were upgraded with side-bonded FRP sheets in the first phase of the experimental program. In the second phase, three of the damaged beams were repaired using epoxy injection and unidirectional carbon fiber polymer (CFRP) sheets. The repairing method, FRP type, and FRP wrapping scheme were the test variables investigated. Test results show that the repair schemes imparted significant mechanical improvements in terms of ultimate shear capacity and ductility. The simultaneous application of epoxy injection and externally bonded FRP sheets was found to be a highly effective repair technique.     

Tensile behavior of epoxy based FRP composites under extreme service conditions

A well established technique for strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) members is based on the use of externally bonded (EB) FRP composites. Nevertheless, limited knowledge is available on the mechanical properties of FRP composites at extreme service environments. The performance of structural members strengthened with EB-FRP laminates exposed to extreme service temperatures or freeze–thaw cycles is mainly associated to either the bond between the FRP laminate and concrete substrate, or the mechanical properties of the laminates. This paper focuses on the latter aspects and presents results on a series of tensile tests of glass and carbon FRP (GFRP and CFRP) coupon specimens exposed to temperatures ranging between ?15 and +70 °C, or after freeze–thaw cycles, including FRP specimens with different number of plies. The experimental results for GFRP specimens indicate a low influence of ply number on FRP mechanical properties, and a minor reduction of axial tensile strength and strain with increasing the temperature. Results for CFRP specimens subjected to extreme service temperatures reflect a significant reduction of mechanical properties, while freeze–thaw cycles do not significantly influence the mechanical performance.