Shear Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Laminates

Shear failure is catastrophic and occurs usually without advance warning; thus it is desirable that the beam fails in flexure rather than in shear. Many existing reinforced concrete (RC) members are found to be deficient in shear strength and need to be repaired. Externally bonded reinforcement such as carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) provides an excellent solution in these situations. To investigate the shear behavior of RC beams with externally bonded CFRP shear reinforcement, 11 RC beams without steel shear reinforcement were cast at the concrete laboratory of the New Jersey Institute of Technology. After the beams were kept in the curing room for 28?days, carbon-fiber strips and fabrics made by Sika Corp. were applied on both sides of the beams at various orientations with respect to the axis of the beam. All beams were tested on a 979?kN (220?kips) MTS testing machine. Results of the test demonstrate the feasibility of using an externally applied, epoxy-bonded CFRP system to restore or increase the shear capacity of RC beams. The CFRP system can significantly increase the serviceability, ductility, and ultimate shear strength of a concrete beam; thus, restoring beam shear strength by using CFRP is a highly effective technique. An analysis and design method for shear strengthening of externally bonded CFRP has been proposed.     

Flexural Behavior of R/C Beams Strengthened with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Sheets or Fabric

Their resistance to electro-chemical corrosion, high strength-to-weight ratio, larger creep strain, fatigue resistance, and nonmagnetic and nonmetallic properties make carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites a viable alternative to bonding of steel plates in repair and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete structures. The objective of this investigation is to study the effectiveness of externally bonded CFRP sheets or carbon fiber fabric in increasing the flexural strength of concrete beams. Four-point bending flexural tests were conducted up to failure on nine concrete beams strengthened with different layouts of CFRP sheets and carbon fiber fabric and on three beams with different layouts of anchored CFRP sheets. An analytical procedure, based on compatibility of deformations and equilibrium of forces, was presented to predict the flexural behavior of beams strengthened with CFRP sheets and carbon fiber fabric. Comparisons were made between the test results and the analytical calculations. The flexural strength was increased up to 58% on concrete beams strengthened with anchored CFRP sheets.     

Reinforced Concrete T-Beams Strengthened in Shear with Fiber Reinforced Polymer Sheets

This research studies the interaction of concrete, steel stirrups, and external fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets in carrying shear loads in reinforced concrete beams. A total of eight tests were conducted on four laboratory-controlled concrete T-beams. The beams were subjected to a four-point loading. Each end of each beam was tested separately. Three types of FRP, uniaxial glass fiber, uniaxial carbon fiber, and triaxial glass fiber, were applied externally to strengthen the web of the T-beams, while some ends were left without FRP. The test results show that FRP reinforcement increases the maximum shear strengths between 15.4 and 42.2% over beams with no FRP. The magnitude of the increased shear capacity is dependent not only on the type of FRP but also on the amount of internal shear reinforcement. The triaxial glass fiber reinforced beam exhibited more ductile failure than the other FRP reinforced beams. This paper also presents a test model that is based on a rational mechanism and can predict the experimental results with excellent accuracy.     

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.     

Torsional Capacity of CFRP Strengthened Reinforced Concrete Beams

Many buildings and bridge elements are subjected to significant torsional moments that affect the design, and may require strengthening. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) has shown great promise as a state-of-the-art material in flexural and shear strengthening as external reinforcement, but information on its applicability in torsional strengthening is limited. Furthermore, available design tools are sparse and unproven. This paper briefly recounts the experimental work in an overall investigation of torsional strengthening of solid and box-section reinforced concrete beams with externally bonded carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). A database of previous experimental research available in literature was compiled and compared against fib Bulletin 14. Modifications consistent with the space truss model were proposed to correct the poor accuracy in predictions of CFRP contribution to strength. Subsequently, a design tool to analyze the full torsional capacity of strengthened reinforced concrete beams was validated against the experimental database.     

Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Repair to Extend Service Life of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Beams

This paper presents the results of an experimental study designed to investigate the viability of using externally bonded carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates to extend the service life of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) beams. A total of 14 beams, 152×254×3,200?mm each, were tested. Three beams were not corroded; two of them were strengthened by CFRP laminates, while one specimen was kept as a virgin. The remaining 11 beams were subjected to different levels of corrosion damage up to a 31% steel mass loss using an impressed current technique. Six of the corroded beams were repaired with CFRP laminates, whereas the remaining five beams were not repaired. Eventually, all specimens were tested to failure under four-point bending. Corrosion of the steel reinforcement significantly reduced the load-carrying capacity of RC beams. At all levels of corrosion damage, CFRP repair increased the ultimate strengths of the corroded beams to levels higher than the strength of the virgin beam but significantly reduced the deflection capacity.     

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.     

Strength and Ductility of Concrete Beams Reinforced with Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Plates and Steel

Seven concrete beams reinforced internally with varying amounts of steel and externally with precured carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) plates applied after the concrete had cracked under service loads were tested under four-point bending. Strains measured along the beam depth allowed computation of the beam curvature in the constant moment region. Results show that FRP is very effective for flexural strengthening. As the amount of steel increases, the additional strength provided by the carbon FRP plates decreases. Compared to a beam reinforced heavily with steel only, beams reinforced with both steel and carbon have adequate deformation capacity, in spite of their brittle mode of failure. Clamping or wrapping of the ends of the precured FRP plate enhances the capacity of adhesively bonded FRP anchorage. Design equations for anchorage, allowable stress, ductility, and amount of reinforcement are discussed.     

Flexural Response of Reinforced Concrete Beams Strengthened with End-Anchored Partially Bonded Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Strips

This paper presents the results of experimental and analytical studies carried out to investigate the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with end-anchored partially bonded carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips. A total of six beams, each 2400 mm long, 150 mm wide, and 250 mm deep with a tension steel reinforcement ratio of 1.18%, were tested. One beam was left unstrengthened as the control, another beam was strengthened with a fully bonded CFRP strip, and the remaining four beams were strengthened with partially bonded CFRP strips placed on the tension face of the beam and fixed at both ends using a mechanical anchor. The influence of varying the CFRP unbonded length (250 mm, 750 mm, 2×500 mm, and 1,250 mm) on the beam flexural response was studied. The experimental results revealed that end-anchored partially bonded CFRP strips significantly enhanced the ultimate capacity of the control beam and performed better than the fully bonded strip with no end-anchorage. This observation stresses the importance of end-anchorage in such strengthening schemes, especially considering that the end-anchored partially bonded CFRP strengthened beams showed similar flexural behavior trends. Finally, an inelastic section analysis procedure that takes into consideration the incompatibility of strains was developed to verify the obtained test results. The analysis produced good predictions of the experimental results in terms of the moment-curvature response and showed the effect of CFRP unbonded length on the strain of the internal tension steel.     

Fatigue Behavior of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer-Strengthened Reinforced Concrete Bridge Girders

This study examines the effects of one-dimensional fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite rehabilitation systems on the flexural fatigue performance of reinforced concrete bridge girders. Eight 508?mm deep and 5.6?m long reinforced concrete T-beams, with and without bonded FRP reinforcement on their tensile surfaces, were tested with a concentrated load at midspan under constant amplitude cyclic loading. The objective of this investigation is to establish the effect that these repair systems have on the fatigue behavior and remaining life of the girders. Results indicate that the fatigue behavior of such retrofit beams is controlled by the fatigue behavior of the reinforcing steel. The fatigue life of a reinforced concrete beam can be increased by the application of an FRP retrofit, which relieves some of the stress carried by the steel. The observed increase in fatigue life, however, is limited by the quality of the bond between the carbon FRP and concrete substrate. Debonding, initiating at midspan and progressing to a support, is common and is driven partially by the crack distribution and shear deformations of the beam.     

Seismic Rehabilitation of Reinforced Concrete Frame Interior Beam-Column Joints with FRP Composites

An experimental research program is described regarding the use of externally applied carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) jackets for seismic rehabilitation of reinforced concrete interior beam-column joints, which were designed for gravity loads. The joints had steel reinforcement details that are known to be inadequate by current seismic codes in terms of joint shear capacity due to the absence of transverse steel hoops and bond capacity of beam bottom steel reinforcing bars at the joint. Lap splicing of beam bottom steel reinforcement at the joint using externally applied longitudinal CFRP composite laminates is investigated. Improvement of joint shear capacity using diagonal CFRP composite laminates is another strengthening scheme employed. Concrete crack widths for the as-built specimens and the extent of CFRP delamination for the rehabilitated specimens at various drift ratios are reported. The test results indicate that CFRP jackets are an effective rehabilitation measure for improving the seismic performance of existing beam-column joints with inadequate seismic details in terms of increased joint shear strength and inelastic rotation capacity. In addition, CFRP laminates are effective rehabilitation measures for overcoming problems associated with beam bottom steel bars that have inadequate embedment into the beam-column joints.     

Modeling of an Unbonded CFRP Strap Shear Retrofitting System for Reinforced Concrete Beams

A retrofitting technique has been developed that uses carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) straps to increase the shear capacity of reinforced concrete beams. The vertical straps are not bonded to the beam but are instead anchored against the beam, which makes this technique potentially more effective than bonded FRP retrofitting techniques. However, it also means that models for bonded FRPs are not appropriate for use with the straps. Instead, a model based on a shear friction approach has been developed where the strain in the straps is calculated based on a term that accounts for the effects of prestress and additional strain in the strap due to shear crack opening. The model can either consider the shear reinforcement to be smeared along the length of the beam or discrete elements. The “smeared” model was checked against an experimental database consisting of rectangular, T-, and deep beams, both in terms of predicted capacity and predicted strain in the straps. Overall the smeared model predicted the capacity of the specimens and, with some adjustments, the strains quite accurately. There were, however, cases when it was more appropriate to use the “discrete” model such as when the transverse reinforcement ratio was low or when the transverse reinforcement spacing was high. Further experimental data are required to fully validate the models and to determine appropriate limits on the use of the smeared model and the discrete model. However, the initial results are promising.     

Mechanical and Structural Characterization of New Carbon FRP Stirrups for Concrete Members

This paper describes an experimental program conducted to develop new carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) stirrups as shear reinforcement for concrete members. The structural behavior of the CFRP stirrups was examined. To simulate the performance mechanism of stirrups in concrete beams, the CFRP stirrup was embedded in two concrete blocks and tested in tension by pushing the concrete blocks away from each other. A total of 12 specimens were constructed and tested to failure. The test variables were the tail length of the stirrup beyond the bent portion, the stirrup anchorage, the bar diameter, and the embedment length. In addition, two full-scale concrete beams reinforced with CFRP stirrups as shear reinforcement were constructed and tested to failure. Test results of the concrete blocks indicated that the strength capacity at the bend of the newly developed CFRP stirrups was adequate and fulfilled the design requirements of different codes and design guides. Further, the tail length was found to be not less than six times the bar diameter to develop the stirrup capacity. The performance of the stirrups in the beam tests was appropriate until reaching the failure of the beams in flexure.     

Prestressed Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Sheets for Strengthening Concrete Beams at Room and Low Temperatures

A technique for strengthening damaged concrete beams using prestressed carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets was developed at Queen’s University and the Royal Military College of Canada. As part of this study, an anchorage system was developed to directly prestress the CFRP sheets by jacking and reacting against the strengthened concrete beam itself. The feasibility and effectiveness of using bonded prestressed CFRP sheets to strengthen precracked concrete beams at both room (+22°C,+72°F) and low (?28°C,?20°F) temperatures have been investigated experimentally. Materials and prestress changes due to temperature variations that would affect and cause changes in flexural behavior were studied. The strengthened beams showed significant increases in flexural stiffness and ultimate capacity as compared to the control-unstrengthened beams. The flexural behavior of the strengthened beams was not adversely affected by short-term exposure to reduced temperature (?28°C,?20°F). In addition to the experimental investigation, analytical models were developed to predict the overall flexural behavior of the strengthened beams during prestressing of the CFRP sheets and under external loading at both room and low temperatures. The model accurately predicted the flexural beam behavior. Improved serviceability behavior and higher strength were predicted for beams strengthened with the bonded prestressed CFRP sheets.     

Flexural Strengthening of RC Beams with Externally Bonded CFRP Systems: Test Results and 3D Nonlinear FE Analysis

This paper presents experimental results and a numerical analysis of the reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened in flexure with various externally bonded carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) configurations. The aim of the experimental work was to investigate the parameters that may delay the intermediate crack debonding of the bottom CFRP laminate, and increase the load carrying capacity and CFRP strength utilization ratio. Ten rectangular RC specimens with a clear span of 4.2?m, categorized in two series, were tested to evaluate the effect of using the additional U-shaped CFRP systems on the intermediate crack debonding of the bottom laminate. Two different configurations of the additional systems were proposed, namely, continuous U-shaped wet layup sheets and spaced side-bonded CFRP L-shaped laminates. The fiber orientation effect of the side-bonded sheets was also investigated. A numerical analysis using an incremental nonlinear displacement-controlled 3D finite-element (FE) model was developed to investigate the flexural and CFRP/concrete interfacial responses of the tested beams. The finite-element model accounts for the orthotropic behavior of the CFRP laminates. An appropriate bond-slip model was adopted to characterize the behavior of the CFRP/concrete interface. Comparisons between the FE predictions and experimental results show very good agreement in terms of the load-deflection and load-strain relationships, ultimate capacities, and failure modes of the 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.     

Repair of Slab–Column Connections Using Epoxy and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer

Repair, strengthening, and retrofit of reinforced and prestressed concrete members have become increasingly important issues as the World’s infrastructure deteriorates with time. Buildings and bridges are often in need of repair or strengthening to accommodate larger live loads as traffic and building occupancies change. In addition, inadequate design and detailing for seismic and other severe natural events has resulted in considerable structural damage and loss of life, particularly in reinforced concrete buildings. Numerous buildings and bridges suffer damage during such events and need to be repaired. The use of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite fabric bonded to the surface of concrete members is comparatively simple, quick and virtually unnoticeable after installation. The use of composites has become routine for increasing both the flexural and shear capacities of reinforced and prestressed concrete beams. Earthquake retrofit of bridge and building structures has relied increasingly on composite wrapping of columns, beams and joints to provide confinement and increase ductility. This paper presents the results of cyclic testing of three large-scale reinforced concrete slab–column connections. Each of the specimens was a half-scale model of an interior slab–column connection common to flat-slab buildings. The specimens were reinforced according to ACI-318 code requirements and included slab shear reinforcement. While supporting a slab gravity load equivalent to dead load plus 30% of the live load, the specimens were subjected to an increasing cyclic lateral loading protocol up to 5% lateral drift. The specimens were subjected to the same loading protocol after they were repaired with epoxy crack sealers and CFRP sheet on the surfaces of the slab. Repair with epoxy and CFRP on the top surface of the slab was able to restore both initial stiffness and ultimate strength of the original specimen.     

Concrete Contribution to the Shear Resistance of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Reinforced Concrete Members

Seven beams were tested in bending to determine the concrete contribution to their shear resistance. The beams had similar dimensions and concrete strength and were reinforced with carbon fiber reinforced polymer bars for flexure without transverse reinforcement. They were designed to fail in shear rather than flexure. The test variables were the shear span to depth ratio, varying from 1.82 to 4.5, and the flexural reinforcement ratio, varying from 1.1 to 3.88 times the balanced strain ratio. The test results are analyzed and compared with the corresponding predicted values using the American Concrete Institute, the Canadian Standard, and the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCF) fiber reinforced polymer design recommendations. Based on these results and previous experimental data, it is shown that the ACI recommendations are extremely conservative whereas the Canadian and JSCE recommendations, albeit still conservative, are in closer agreement with the experimental data. Overall the Canadian Standard’s predictions are in better agreement with experimental data than the JSCE predictions.     

Behavior of Beams Strengthened with Novel Self-Anchored Near-Surface-Mounted CFRP Bars

A commonly observed failure mode in laboratory tests involving surface bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates or near-surface-mounted (NSM) bars is premature delamination, that is, the separation of the FRP from the substrate well before the FRP reaches its ultimate strain capacity. To delay the onset of delamination and to ensure that the NSM FRP reinforcement continues to contribute to member strength after partial delamination, a new self-anchored carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) bar was developed and tested for this investigation. This bar is made with a series of monolithic spikes that can be anchored deep inside the concrete. In addition to cutting grooves into the concrete cover for the placement of the primary reinforcing bar, holes are drilled deep into the concrete to insert the spikes. To test the performance of this bar, six large, simply supported, reinforced, concrete beams were retrofitted with NSM bars and tested in four-point bending. Two beams were strengthened with NSM bars without anchors or spikes but were otherwise similar to the self-anchored bar and served as control specimens (Series?B1). Two beams were strengthened in flexure with the new self-anchored NSM bars (Series?B2), and the remaining two beams (Series?B3) were strengthened in flexure and shear by using the self-anchored NSM bars as partial shear reinforcement. The effect of the proposed strengthening system on the beams’ strength, failure mode, deformability, and ductility are discussed on the basis of the experimental results. The anchors delayed delamination and enabled the NSM bar to experience at least a 77% higher strain at failure than the companion bar without anchors. The anchors also increased beam displacement ductility and energy ductility at a 20% strength degradation by at least 34% and 42%, respectively.     

Shear Strengthening of T Cross Section Reinforced Concrete Beams by Near-Surface Mounted Technique

With the purpose of evaluating the influence of both the percentage and inclination of the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates on the effectiveness of the near-surface mounted technique for the shear strengthening of reinforced concrete T beams, an experimental program was carried out, using three percentages of laminates and, for each one, three inclinations: 90, 60, and 45°. The CFRP-strengthened beams had a steel stirrup reinforcement ratio (ρsw) of 0.1%. The highest CFRP percentage was designed to provide a maximum load similar to the one of a reference beam reinforced with ρsw equal to 0.24%. Although these beams have had a similar maximum load, the beams with CFRP presented higher stiffness. Laminates at 60° was the most effective shear strengthening configuration, having provided a maximum increase in the load capacity of 33%. The contribution of the CFRP strengthening systems was limited by the concrete tensile strength. Below certain spacing between laminates, a group effect occurs due to the interference between consecutive concrete failure surfaces, leading to the detachment of “two lateral walls” from the underlying beam core.