Shear Strengthening of RC Beams with Externally Bonded FRP Composites: Effect of Strip-Width-to-Strip-Spacing Ratio

The results of an experimental and analytical investigation of shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with externally bonded (EB) fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) strips and sheets are presented, with emphasis on the effect of the strip-width-to-strip-spacing ratio on the contribution of FRP (Vf). In all, 14 tests were performed on 4,520-mm-long T-beams. RC beams strengthened in shear using carbon FRP (CFRP) strips with different width-to-spacing ratios were considered, and their performance was investigated. In addition, these results are compared with those obtained for RC beams strengthened with various numbers of layers of continuous CFRP sheet. Moreover, various existing equations that express the effect of FRP strip width and concrete-member width and that have been proposed based on single or double FRP-to-concrete direct pullout tests are checked for RC beams strengthened in shear with CFRP strips. The objectives of this study are to investigate the following: (1)?the effectiveness of EB discontinuous FRP sheets (FRP strips) compared with that of EB continuous FRP sheets; (2)?the optimum strip-width-to-strip-spacing ratio for FRP (i.e., the optimum FRP rigidity); (3)?the effect of FRP strip location with respect to internal transverse-steel location; (4)?the effect of FRP strip width; and (5)?the effect of internal transverse-steel reinforcement on the CFRP shear contribution.     

Strengthening RC Beams in Flexure Using New Hybrid FRP Sheet/Ductile Anchor System

This paper explores a new hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheet/ductile anchor system for rehabilitation of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. The advantages of the proposed strengthening method is that it overcomes the problem of low ductility that is associated with brittle failure mode in conventional methods of strengthening beams using epoxy-bonded FRP sheets. The proposed system leads to a ductile failure mode by triggering yielding to occur in a steel anchor system (steel links) rather than by rupture or debonding of FRP sheets, which is sudden in nature. Four half-scale RC T-beams were tested under four-point bending. Three retrofitted beams were strengthened using one layer of carbon FRP sheet. The results of the two beams that were strengthened with the new hybrid FRP sheet/ductile anchor system were compared with the results from the beam strengthened with conventional FRP bonding method and the control beam. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed strengthening system in increasing flexural capacity and ductility of RC beams.     

Strengthening of Short Shear Span Reinforced Concrete T Joists with Fiber-Reinforced Plasic Composites

In this work, the results of an experimental study conducted in a 1964-vintage building are presented. Twelve reinforced concrete (RC) T-joists strengthened with fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites were loaded until failure in a short shear span configuration. Different strengthening schemes, including different FRP materials and a new FRP anchorage system, were adopted in order to compare the performance of the different installations. Carbon FRP and aramid FRP sheets in an epoxy matrix were bonded to the RC joists using the wet layup technique. All of the joists were loaded close to one end support and showed similar cracking patterns at failure. The design calculations were based on experimental results. All of the unanchored FRP strengthened beams showed failure due to peeling, while the anchored FRP strengthened members showed failure due to anchor pullout at higher load values. It was found that an increase in the amount of FRP did not result in a proportional increase in the shear capacity, as expected by design equations, but all of the beams showed a considerable increase in stiffness. The experimental results are compared with the results expected by analytical models in order to discuss the structural behavior of FRP strengthened beams tested in a real building with a short shear span. It was found that theoretical calculations resulted in nonconservative results for the tested specimens.     

Debonding in RC Beams Shear Strengthened with Complete FRP Wraps

Substantial research has been conducted on the shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with bonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) strips. The beams may be strengthened in various ways: complete FRP wraps covering the whole cross section (i.e., complete wrapping), FRP U jackets covering the two sides and the tension face (i.e., U jacketing), and FRP strips bonded to the sides only (i.e., side bonding). Shear failure of such strengthened beams is generally in one of two modes: FRP rupture and debonding. The former mode governs in almost all beams with complete FRP wraps and some beams with U jackets, while the latter mode governs in all beams with side strips and U jackets. In RC beams strengthened with complete wraps, referred to as FRP wrapped beams, the shear failure process usually starts with the debonding of FRP from the sides of the beam near the critical shear crack, but ultimate failure is by rupture of the FRP. Most previous research has been concerned with the ultimate failure of FRP wrapped beams when FRP ruptures. However, debonding of FRP from the sides is at least a serviceability limit state and may also be taken as the ultimate limit state. This paper presents an experimental study on this debonding failure state in which a total of 18 beams were tested. The paper focuses on the distribution of strains in the FRP strips intersected by the critical shear crack, and the shear capacity at debonding. A simple model is proposed to predict the contribution of FRP to the shear capacity of the beam at the complete debonding of the critical FRP strip.     

Fatigue Performance of RC Beams Strengthened in Shear with CFRP Fabrics

In recent years, a tremendous effort has been directed toward understanding and promoting the use of externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites to strengthen concrete structures. Despite this research effort, studies on the behavior of beams strengthened with FRP under fatigue loading are relatively few, especially with regard to its shear-strengthening aspect. This study aims to examine the fatigue performance of RC beams strengthened in shear using carbon FRP (CFRP) sheets. It involves six laboratory tests performed on full-size T-beams, where the following parameters are investigated: (1) the FRP ratio and (2) the internal transverse-steel reinforcement ratio. The major finding of this study is that specimens strengthened with one layer of CFRP survived 5 million cycles, some of them with no apparent signs of damage, demonstrating thereby the effectiveness of FRP strengthening systems on extending the fatigue life of structures. Specimens strengthened with two layers of CFRP failed in fatigue well below 5 million cycles. The failure mode observed for these specimens was a combination of crushing of the concrete struts, local debonding of CFRP, and yielding of steel stirrups. This failure may be attributed to the higher load amplitude and also to the greater stiffness of the FRP which may have changed the stress distribution among the different components coming into play. Finally, comparison between the performance of specimens with transverse steel and without seems to indicate that the addition of transverse steel extends the fatigue life of RC beams.     

Comparison between Organic and Inorganic Matrices for RC Beams Strengthened with Carbon Fiber Sheets

The objective of this paper is to study and compare the performance of concrete beams strengthened with carbon fiber sheets bonded with inorganic and organic resin matrices. The experimental study consisted of testing two groups of steel-reinforced concrete beams. The first group of beams was strengthened with carbon fiber sheets bonded with an organic matrix, and the second with carbon fiber sheets bonded with an inorganic matrix. The first group of beams was strengthened with 2, 3, and 4 layers of carbon fiber sheets, while the second group was strengthened with 2, 3, 4, and 5 layers of carbon fiber sheets. Strength, stiffness, ductility, deflection, failure pattern, and cracking of beams strengthened with the two systems were compared. Results showed that the inorganic matrix system is as effective in increasing strength and stiffness of reinforced concrete beams as the organic matrix. The failure mechanism of the inorganic system, however, seems more brittle. The failure of beams strengthened with inorganic matrix showed crack formation in the composite and a minimum buildup of strain along the interface of the composite and concrete. Analytical models were proposed to predict deflection and moment capacity of the strengthened beams. The experimental values compared well with those predicted by the analytical models.     

Retrofitting of Deficient RC Cantilever Slabs Using GFRP Strips

Despite many studies on beams and slabs strengthened using fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) plates, no study has been reported on the strengthening of RC cantilever slabs (e.g., canopies and balconies) using FRP materials. This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the feasibility of strengthening deficient RC cantilever slabs by bonding glass FRP (GFRP) strips∕sheets on the top surface (the tension side). As the key to the success of this strengthening method is a proper way of anchoring the GFRP strips into the supporting wall and the slab, the effectiveness of different anchorage systems was the focus of the experiments. Based on the test results, a simple and effective method is identified in which the GFRP strips are anchored into the walls through horizontal slots and onto the slab using fiber anchors.     

Strengthening of Brick Masonry Arches with Externally Bonded Steel Reinforced Composites

The objective of this study is to investigate the efficiency of an innovative technique for strengthening masonry arches, based on the use of high strength steel cords embedded in either an epoxy (steel reinforced polymer) or mortar matrix (steel reinforced grout). Ten prototypes of brickwork arches strengthened by composite laminates were tested under a monotonic vertical load applied at the quarter-span. Load tests were performed to compare the behavior up to collapse of strengthened masonry arches; the influence of the types of reinforcement (steel and carbon fibers) and matrices (epoxy and cementitious), as well as location of the strengthening layer (intrados, extrados, and both) and the presence of anchorage systems has been investigated. The experimental results highlight the enhanced strength of the arches reinforced with steel cords, as well as the role of the mechanical anchoring with regard to the resulting final strength.     

Experimental Investigation of FRP-Strengthened RC Beam-Column Joints

The results of a comprehensive experimental program, aimed at providing a fundamental understanding of the behavior of shear-critical exterior reinforced concrete (RC) joints strengthened with fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) under simulated seismic load, are presented in this study. The role of various parameters on the effectiveness of FRP is examined through 2/3-scale testing of 18 exterior RC joints. Conclusions are drawn on the basis of certain load versus imposed displacement response characteristics, comprising the strength (maximum lateral load), the stiffness, and the cumulative energy dissipation capacity. The results demonstrate the important role of mechanical anchorages in limiting premature debonding, and they provide important information on the role of various parameters, including: area fraction of FRP; distribution of FRP between the beam and the column; column axial load; internal joint (steel) reinforcement; initial damage; carbon versus glass fibers; sheets versus strips; and effect of transverse beams.     

Fatigue of Reinforced Concrete Beams Strengthened with Steel-Reinforced Inorganic Polymers

Steel-reinforced polymer (SRP) composite materials are very attractive due to their low weight and high strength. The ease of installation which significantly reduces repair time and expense is another major advantage. One of the main disadvantages of SRP materials is that the matrices used for their fabrication are typically organic and thus they are susceptible to fire. In this study, a newly developed retrofit system is being used. It consists of high strength steel fibers impregnated in a fireproof inorganic matrix. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of this hybrid rehabilitation system on the fatigue performance of strengthened reinforced concrete beams. Sixteen 100?mm×150?mm×1200?mm reinforced concrete beams with enough transverse reinforcement to avoid shear failure were used in this study. Nine beams were strengthened with steel fiber sheets on their tension faces. The results from the present study indicate that the fatigue life of reinforced concrete beams, subjected to the same cycling load, can be significantly extended using externally bonded sheets. A rather important finding is that although the strengthening system increases the fatigue life of the beams, the failure mechanism remains the same in both strengthened and nonstrengthened beams. Thus, it is possible to predict the fatigue life of a cyclically loaded beam using existing fatigue models. Furthermore, no delamination failures were observed due to fatigue loading.     

Flexural Fatigue Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beams Strengthened with FRP Fabric and Precured Laminate Systems

Rehabilitation of existing structures with carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) has been growing in popularity because they offer resistance to corrosion and a high stiffness-to-weight ratio. This paper presents the flexural strengthening of seven reinforced concrete (RC) beams with two FRP systems. Two beams were maintained as unstrengthened control samples. Three of the RC beams were strengthened with CFRP fabrics, whereas the remaining two were strengthened using FRP precured laminates. Glass fiber anchor spikes were applied in one of the CFRP fabric strengthened beams. One of the FRP precured laminate strengthened beams was bonded with epoxy adhesive and the other one was attached by using mechanical fasteners. Five of the beams were tested under fatigue loading for two million cycles. All of the beams survived fatigue testing. The results showed that use of anchor spikes in fabric strengthening increase ultimate strength, and mechanical fasteners can be an alternative to epoxy bonded precured laminate systems.     

Lateral Out-of-Plane Strengthening of Masonry Walls with Composite Materials

The structural behavior of masonry walls laterally strengthened with externally bonded composite materials to resist out-of-plane loads is theoretically and experimentally studied. Hollow concrete block masonry walls and solid autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) block masonry walls are examined. A theoretical model that accounts for the cracking and the physical nonlinear behavior, the debonding of the composite layers, the arching effect, the interfacial stresses, and the unique modeling aspects of the laterally strengthened wall is presented. The experimental study includes loading to failure of 4 laterally strengthened masonry walls and 2 control walls. The experimental and analytical results point at the unique aspects of the lateral strengthening of masonry walls with composite materials. In particular, they reveal and explain the premature shear failure in laterally strengthened hollow concrete blocks walls and, on the other hand, demonstrate the potential of lateral fiber-reinforced polymer strengthening of AAC masonry walls. The laterally strengthened AAC masonry walls reveal improved strength, deformability, and integrity at failure characteristics.     

Behavior of Concrete Beams Strengthened in Shear with Carbon-Fiber Sheets

This paper presents the results of a test program for shear strengthening characteristics of continuous unidirectional flexible carbon-fiber polymer sheets bonded to reinforced concrete (RC) beams. A total of eight 150?mm×200?mm×2,600?mm concrete beams were tested. Various sheet configurations and layouts were studied to determine their effects on ultimate shear strength of the beams. From the tests, it was found that the externally adhesive bonded flexible carbon-fiber sheets are effective in strengthening RC beams in shear. Further, it was observed that the strength increases with the number of sheet layers and the depth of sheets across the beam section. Among the various schemes of wrapping studied, vertical U-wrap of sheet provided the most effective strengthening for concrete beam. Beam strengthened using this scheme showed 119% increase in shear capacity as compared to the control beam without any strengthening. Two prediction models available in literature for computing the shear contribution of carbon-fiber tow sheets to the shear capacity of fiber reinforced polymers bonded beams were compared with the experimental results.     

Strengthening Masonry Arches with Composite Materials

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of strengthening masonry arches using two different composite materials. To this end, an experimental analysis was carried out on models of arches that were first damaged, then strengthened by applying composite material sheets to the surface of the intrados, and last, subjected to a loading process until the point of collapse. One arch was strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, the other with glass fiber-reinforced cement matrix. Results collected during the experimental analysis were significant in assessing the capability to support horizontal load, in increasing the collapse load, stiffness, and ductility, and in assessing the different fracture patterns and collapse modes of the arches strengthened with different fiber-reinforced composites. The comparison will be useful for establishing the physical-mechanical and aesthetic compatibilities between the original construction and the strengthening matrix (polymeric or cementitious), particularly with reference to the safeguarding of historical buildings.     

Fiber Reinforced Polymer Shear Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Beams with Transverse Steel Reinforcement

The paper aims to contribute to a better understanding and modeling of the shear behavior of reinforced-concrete (RC) beams strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets. The study is based on an experimental program carried out on 11 beams with and without transverse steel reinforcement, and with different amounts of FRP shear strengthening. The test results provide some new insights into the complex failure mechanisms that characterize the ultimate shear capacity of RC members with transverse steel reinforcement and FRP sheets. After the discussion of the above topics, a new upper bound of the shear strength is introduced. It should be capable of taking into account how the cracking pattern in the web failing under shear is modified by the presence of FRP sheets, and how such a modified cracking pattern actually modifies the anchorage conditions of the sheets and their effective contribution to the ultimate shear strength of the beams.     

FRP配筋混凝土结构研究进展及其应用

外贴碳纤维板是钢梁抗弯加固的常用方法,但其端部易因界面应力集中导致剥离破坏,严重影响高性能材料的有效利用,特别是结构加固后的安全服役. 为此开发出一种适用于H型钢梁的简易夹具——C形槽板夹,以加强碳纤维板的端部锚固. 通过多根带夹碳纤维板加固梁的静力加载试验,验证了此夹具的可靠性,并考察了碳纤维板伸入剪跨段长度与剪跨段长度之比及锚固方式(纯粘、端锚和混锚)对加固效果的影响. 研究发现端锚加固不同于纯粘,只要梁的控制截面仍在夹具之间,碳纤维板的极限应力、加固效果及利用效率均随其长度缩短而提高,当碳纤维板长度分别为600、750 mm时,前者极限应变和承载力比后者分别高27.3%和8.1%. 由于钢梁表面处理质量较差,混锚加固梁均发生突然剥离,后期退化为端锚加固梁,因而相比端锚加固梁加固效果改善不大,需要提高表面处理质量再做类似研究. 尽管如此,相比纯粘加固梁,混锚加固梁采用C形槽板夹后剥离破坏被延迟,抗弯性能大为改善. 试验过程中还用压电阻抗法对界面剥离情况进行了检测,结果符合实际.

     

Interaction between Steel Stirrups and Shear-Strengthening FRP Strips in RC Beams

RC beams shear strengthened with either fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) U-jackets/U-strips or side strips commonly fail due to debonding of the bonded FRP shear reinforcement. As such debonding occurs in a brittle manner at relatively small shear crack widths, some of the internal steel stirrups may not have reached yielding. Consequently, the yield strength of internal steel stirrups in such a strengthened RC beam cannot be fully used. In this paper, a computational model for shear interaction between FRP strips and steel stirrups is first presented, in which a general parabolic crack shape function is employed to represent the widening process of a single major shear crack in an RC beam. In addition, appropriate bond-slip relationships are adopted to accurately depict the bond behavior of FRP strips and steel stirrups. Numerical results obtained using this computational model show that a substantial adverse effect of shear interaction generally exists between steel stirrups and FRP strips for RC beams shear strengthened with FRP side strips. For RC beams shear strengthened with FRP U-strips, shear interaction can still have a significant adverse effect when FRP strips with a high axial stiffness are used. Therefore, for accurate evaluation of the shear resistance of RC beams shear strengthened with FRP strips, this adverse effect of shear interaction should be properly considered in design.     

Efficient Strengthening Technique to Increase the Flexural Resistance of Existing RC Slabs

Composite materials are being used with notable effectiveness to increase and upgrade the flexural load carrying capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) members. Near-surface mounted (NSM) is one of the most promising strengthening techniques, based on the use of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. According to NSM, the laminates are fixed with epoxy based adhesive into slits opened into the concrete cover on the tension face of the elements to strength. Laboratory tests have shown that the NSM technique is an adequate strengthening strategy to increase the flexural resistance of RC slabs. However, in RC slabs of low concrete strength, the increase of the flexural resistance that NSM can provide is limited by the maximum allowable compressive strain in the compressed part of the slab, in order to avoid concrete crushing. This restriction reduces the effectiveness of the strengthening, thus limiting the use of the NSM technique. A new thin layer of concrete bonded to the existing concrete at the compressed region is suitable to overcome this limitation. Volumetric contraction due to shrinkage and thermal effects can induce uncontrolled cracking in the concrete of this thin layer. Adding steel fibers to concrete [steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC)], the postcracking residual stress can be increased in order to prevent the formation of uncontrolled crack patterns. In the present work, the combined strengthening strategy, a SFRC overlay and NSM CFRP laminates, was applied to significantly increase the flexural resistance of existing RC slabs. Experimental results of four-point bending tests, carried out in unstrengthened and strengthened concrete slab strips, are presented and analyzed.     

Shear Strengthening of Concrete Structures with the Use of Mineral-Based Composites

Rehabilitation and strengthening of concrete structures have become more common during the last 10–15?years, partly due to a large stock of old structures and partly due to concrete deterioration. Also factors such as lack of understanding and the consequences of chloride attack affect the need for rehabilitation. In addition, more traffic and heavier loads lead to the need for upgrading. Existing externally bonded strengthening systems using fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) and epoxy as bonding agents have been proven to be a good approach to repair and strengthen concrete structures. However, the use of epoxy bonding agents has some disadvantages in the form of incompatibilities with the base concrete. It is, therefore, of interest to substitute epoxy with systems that have better compatibility properties with the base concrete, for example, cementitious bonding agents. This paper presents a study on reinforced concrete beams strengthened in shear with the use of cementitious bonding agents and carbon fiber grids, denoted as mineral-based composites (MBC). In this study it is shown that the MBC system has a strengthening effect corresponding to that of strengthening systems using epoxy bonding agents and carbon fiber sheets. Different designs and material properties of the MBC system have been tested. An extensive monitoring setup has been carried out using traditional strain gauges and photometric strain measurements to obtain strains in steel reinforcement, in FRP, and strain fields on the strengthened surface. It has been shown that the use of MBC reduces strains in the steel stirrups and surface cracks even for low load steps as compared to a nonstrengthened concrete beam.     

Prestressed FRP Sheets for Poststrengthening Reinforced Concrete Beams

Four large-scale reinforced concrete beams were constructed and tested to investigate the effectiveness of external poststrengthening with prestressed fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets. One of the beams served as a control specimen, another was strengthened with nonprestressed carbon FRP sheets, and the remaining two were strengthened with prestressed carbon FRP sheets. Presented is a method of prestressing multiple layers of the carbon fiber sheets during the application process and the experimental and analytical behavior of the beams under quasi-static loading. Comparisons are made between the control beam, the beam reinforced with nonprestressed carbon FRP sheets, and the beams strengthened with prestressed sheets. Serviceability and ultimate conditions are considered in the theoretical prediction of beam behavior, including the effects of multiple layer prestressing and external loading. The bonding of prestressed FRP sheets to the tensile face of concrete beams improved both the serviceability and the ultimate behavior of the reinforced concrete beams.