Flexure Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Beams Using GFRP Wrapping

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials are used in different configuration and techniques for strengthening of Reinforced concrete (RC) elements to ensure their longer service life. Use of FRP material as externally bonded surface reinforcement is one of the popular strengthening techniques that consist of bonding FRP material using primer and saturant on RC elements to improve their properties. An attempt has been made to investigate the structural performance of simply supported RC beams deficient in flexure by strengthening with Externally bonded GFRP sheet. 10 beams are strengthened in flexure. Size of beam is kept 150mm x 200mm x 2100mm.Beams are designed using IS provisions. The beams are made deficient for flexure by reducing percentage of tensile reinforcement. The RC beams are subjected to two point loading during testing. Variables considered in flexure strengthening of beams are change in number of layers of FRP sheet, fiber orientation angle and area of FRP material.FRP strengthened beams deficient in flexure exhibited increment in flexure load carrying capacity ranging from 15.5% to 43.5% as compared to that of control beam.