Torsional Strengthening of RC rectangular beam using Stainless Steel Wire Mesh- Experimental Study

Abstract

For more than a decade, the issue of modernizing old civil engineering infrastructure has been a major concern, due to ageing environmental induced deterioration, poor initial design or construction, or lack of maintenance, as well as accidental events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. As a result, strengthening of civil engineering infrastructure has gained a lot of attention in recent years all over the world. To strengthen structural element under torsion load, various types of materials are used by the various researchers but for the present study, the efficiency of locally available stainless steel wire mesh (SSWM) for torsional strengthening of RC rectangular beam is investigated.

Experimental investigation is conducted on RC rectangular beams with different SSWM wrapping configurations. A total of 8 beams with M25 grade of concrete are casted and tested under pure torsional load. The cross sectional dimensions of RC rectangular beams are 100mm x 225mm and length of 1300mm. All the beams are reinforced with 4-10mm diameter longitudinal bars and 2 leg 8mm diameter stirrups at 150mm c/c. Two RC rectangular beams are designated as control specimens and other 6 beams are strengthened with three different SSWM wrapping configuration. The wrapping configurations considered for strengthening of RC rectangular beams are Rectangular beam with Corner and 100mm Strip wrapping In between Stirrups (RCO&100mmSIS), Rectangular beam with Corner and Diagonal Strip wrapping (RCO&DS), and Rectangular beam with Full Wrapping (RFW). These specimens are tested under torsional loading frame for pure torsional load. The torsional moment and corresponding twist at first crack and ultimate stage are measured. Damage pattern and torque-twist behavior as well as initial cracking torque corresponding twist. RCO&100mmSIS wrapped beam shows 59% and 68% increment in ultimate and cracking torque compared to control specimen.

The present work can be an aid in the development of SSWM’s application procedure on RC beams. This study also provide experimental data base for torsional behavior of RC beams strengthened with different wrapping configurations of SSWM.