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Materials Today: Proceedings 16 (2019) 361–366 www.materialstoday.com/proceedings

ICAMMAS17
Strengthening and Retrofitting of RC Beams Using
Fiber Reinforced Polymers
Achudhan*, Deepavarsa1, Vandhana2, Shalini3
*
Assistant Professor, Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering,Sri Sai Ram Institute of Technology, India ph:9486050571
1,2,3
Under Graduate Students, Department of Civil Engineering,Sri Sai Ram Institute of Technology, India

Abstract

Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) Structures are bound to lose its strength while in service due to various causes.
Rehabilitation restores the health and service life of the structures. Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites overcome most of
the limitations of conventionally practiced repair techniques.The Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) application is a effective method
to repair and strengthen structures that have become structurally weak over their life span. FRP repair systems provide an
economically viable alternative to traditional repair systems and materials. Among the various fibers, Glass Fibers (GF) is widely
used in FRP. Strengthening of RC structural elements using externally bonded GFRP composite is an effective method to increase
the structural performance under both service and ultimate load conditions. Restoring or upgrading the strength of beams using
GFRP sheet can result in increased strength and stiffness.

Keywords: Fiber reinforced polymer; cement concrete; increase structural performance

© 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Selection and/or Peer-review under responsibility of International Conference on Advances in Materials, Manufacturing and Applied Scienece

1. Introduction

1.1 General

Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) is an extremely popular construction material. One major flaw of RCC is its
susceptibility to environmental attack. This can severely decrease the strength and life of these structures.
The repair of structurally deteriorated RC structures becomes necessary since the structural element ceases to
provide satisfactory strength and serviceability. The reasons may be due to changes in loading, changes in use,
reinforcement corrosion or changes in configuration. Occurrence of natural calamities may also be one of the reasons
requiring repair of existing structures.

* Corresponding author. Tel.: 9486050571.

E-mail address: [email protected]

2214-7853 © 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Selection and/or Peer-review under responsibility of International Conference on Advances in Materials, Manufacturing and Applied Scienece
362 Achudhan et al. / Materials Today: Proceedings 16 (2019) 361–366

2. Experimental investigations

2.1 Introduction

A number of investigations have shown that externally bonded Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) material
in the form of plates or laminates is suitable for strengthening and stiffening of deficient RCC structural elements.

2.2 Experimental study

The experimental study consists of casting of three sets of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams. In Group I three
beams are casting, it consider as control beams. In Group II three beams are casting, it consider as strengthen beams.
In Group III two beams are casting, it consider as corrosion beam. The dimensions of all the specimens are identical.
In Group I three beams are strengthened by using continuous glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) sheets after
testing. In Group II three beams are strengthened by using continuous Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP)
sheets before testing. In Group III two beams is strengthened by using continuous Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer
(GFRP) sheets before testing. The strengthening of the beams is done with one layer of GFRP sheets. Experimental
data on load, deflection and failure modes of each beams were obtained. The change in load carrying capacity and
failure mode of the beams were investigated.

2.3 Experimental program

Each rectangular beam was 100 mm x 150 mm in cross section and 1100 mm long. The internal longitudinal steel
reinforcement consisted of four 10 mm diameter bars at the top and bottom. The shear reinforcement consisted of 6
mm diameter bars 175 mm centre to centre. The 720 mm copper wire was extended 750 mm beyond the end of the
concrete for the purpose of making external electrical connections. The clear concrete cover was 25 mm on all
aspects of the specimen.

2.4 Experimental setup

All the specimens were tested in the Universal Testing Machine (UTM) of 1000 kN. After the curing period of 28
days was over, the beam as washed and its surface was cleaned for visibility of cracks. The commonly used load
arrangement for testing of beams will consist of two-point loading. If the shear capacity of the member is to be
assessed, the load will be concentrated at a suitable shorter distance from a support.
The specimen was placed over the two steel rollers bearing leaving 50 mm from the ends of the beam. The
remaining 1000 mm was divided into three equal parts of 330 mm and two point loading arrangement was done.
Loading was done by hydraulic jack of capacity 100 KN. Dial gauges of least count 0.01mm were used for recording
the mid span deflection of the beams. The dial gauge was placed just below the center of the beam.

2.5 Procedure

Before testing the member was checked dimensionally, and a detailed visual inspection made with all information
carefully recorded. The loads and deflections were recorded by setting the gauge properly and then the load was
increased gradually. Loads will then normally be increased again in similar increments up to failure and the
deflection gauges were replaced by a suitably mounted scale. This procedure is necessary to avoid damage to gauges,
and even though accuracy is reduced, the deflections at this stage will usually be large and easily measured from a
distance. Cracking and failure mode was checked visually, and a load vs. deflection plot was prepared.
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3. Literature review
[3]
Congqi Fanga et al. (2004) from this study, where splitting curves were observed for all corroded
specimens, the following conclusions can be drawn:
 For deformed bars without confinement bond strength was very sensitive to corrosion levels and decreased
with the corrosion level. Bond strength decreased rapidly as the corrosion level increased; bond strength at 9%
corrosion was only one third of that of non-corroded specimens. The exception is that when the corrosion level was
very low, when bond strength increased as the corrosion level increased;
 For deformed bars with confinement, corrosion had no influence on the bond strength;
 For smooth bar without confinement, there is a variation in effect of the corrosion on the bond strength at
a certain level; that is, when level of corrosion was low, bond strength increased as level of corrosion increased,
with the ultimate bond strength as much as 2.5 times that of non-corroded, while bond strength decreased rapidly at
higher levels of corrosion. The break point was for corrosion levels of around 2–4%;
 For smooth bar with confinement, bond strength increased as level of corrosion increased, up to a relatively
high degree of corrosion. The increase in bond strength could be observed even at a corrosion level of more than
5%.
[2]
Bimal Babu Adhikary and Hiroshi Mutsuyoshi. (2006) experiments are performed to study the
effectiveness of different strengthening techniques for shear enhancement of reinforced concrete beams in a
research program for shear strengthening of concrete beams. From the results, the following conclusions are drawn.
It is found that the externally epoxy bonded steel plates, vertical strips and externally anchored stirrups can enhance
the ultimate shear strength of reinforced concrete beams and change the failure mode from brittle shear to flexural
shear. A 72% increase in shear strength was obtained for the beam with epoxy bonded plates of steel. Externally
anchored stirrups were found very effective, beam ESB failed at a load 117% of the load of failure of control beam
CB. Thus, it was confirmed that this method is the most effective one for shear strengthening of reinforced concrete
beams. None of the strengthening methods improved the flexural strengths of the beams. The results presented in
this paper are from the first pilot study conducted and each beam specimen is unique in design, material properties
and test results. The results thus obtained involve certain degree of randomness and variation. Further tests and
more in depth study are needed for confirming the degree of effectiveness of each strengthening technique which
includes the use of externally anchored stirrups for shear strengthening of reinforced concrete beams.
[1]
Benyoucef S. et al. (2007) in this paper, a closed-form solution for the interfacial shear and normal stresses in
RC beam strengthened with FRP plate including the effects namely creep and shrinkage has been presented. The
evaluation of interfacial stresses provides the basis for understanding plate-end deboning failures in such beam and
for the development of suitable design rules. The main conclusions to be drawn from this investigation are:
 The proposed solution permits the study of the behavior of FRP–RC hybrid beams due to the opposed
effects of creep and shrinkage.
 The parametric study showed that the stresses at the interfacial edge decrease as the thickness of the
adhesive increases, the thickness of FRP plate decreases or the length of unstrengthened region decreases.

4. Results and Discussion

4.1 Test results

The ultimate load carrying capacity of all the beams along with the nature of failure is given in Table 4.1.It shows
that for control strengthen beam, it’s deflection is 7.60mm which is less than control beam. Corroded strengthen beam
has deflection 10.58mm which is more than corroded beam and retrofitted beam shows minimum deflection of 6.54
mm than other beams.
364 Achudhan et al. / Materials Today: Proceedings 16 (2019) 361–366

Table 4.1Results of tested beams

Sl.No. Type of Beam Beam First crack Ultimate Deflection Nature of failure
designation load (kN) load (kN) (mm)
1 Control beam CB 35.70 84.10 10.17 Shear failure+ Flexure failure

2 Control CSB 51.40 83.90 7.60 GFRP

strengthen beam rupture+ Flexure failure

3 Corroded beam CDB 34.00 64.30 9.38 Flexural failure

4 Corroded CDSB 39.00 60.00 10.58 GFRP rupture+ Flexure failure

strengthen beam
5 Retrofitted beam RB 74.50 86.10 6.54 GFRP rupture+ Flexure failure

4.2 Service load

The table 4.2 shows the strength gain factor of beams for increase in service load.

Table 4.2 Results of service load

Sl. No. Type of beam Beam Designation Service load ( Ps), Strength gain factor
kN
1 Control beam CB 67.28 1.00

2 Control strengthen CSB 66.48 0.98

beam
3 Corroded beam CDB 51.44 0.76
4 Corroded strengthen CDSB 48.00 0.71
beam
5 Retrofitted beam RB 68.88 1.02

Figure 4.1 Load vs. Deflection Curve for Comparison of all Beams

From the table 4.2, it is evident that the increase in service load of retrofitted beam due to the using GFRP
composite is about 2 % higher compared to value obtained for control beam.The load and deflection data for three
groups of beams. The comparison load vs. deflection curve is plotted for Control beam, Control strengthen beam,
Corroded beam, Corroded strengthen beam and Retrofitted beam as shown in figure 4.1.
 Achudhan et al. / Materials Today: Proceedings 16 (2019) 261–366 365

5. Conclusions

In this experimental investigation the flexural and shear behaviour of reinforced beams retrofitted with GFRP.
The following conclusions were drawn from this experimental study:
 The provision provided in the ACI code could be used as guidelines for the use of FRP in repair and
rehabilitation of structures. All the beams provided with GFRP strips gave the strength for which they were
designed.

 FRP’S were able to take more loads. Therefore, the strength of retrofitted beams are more than that of control
beams.

 From this investigation the control strengthened beams, corroded beams, corroded strengthen beams and
retrofitted beams were withstand the load carrying capacity was 98%, 76%, 71% and 102% of the control
beams respectively.

 In service load, the strength gain factor of retrofitted beam is 2% higher than the control beam.

 The Energy absorption capacity of retrofitted beam is increase 4 % compare to control beam. The energy
absorption capacity achieved for the retrofitted beam is 406.40 kN-mm.

 The using GFRP sheet, retrofitted beams improves its ductility significantly. The value of maximum ductility
factor achieved was 1.35.

 The stiffness of the GFRP-retrofitted beam is increased 59% compared to that of the control beam.

 Strengthening of RC structural elements using externally bonded GFRP composite is an effective method to
increase the structural performance under both service and ultimate load conditions.

 Restoring or upgrading the strength of beams using GFRP sheet can result in increased strength and stiffness.
Restoring the strength of beams using GFRP is a highly effective technique.

6. REFERENCES

[1] Benyoucef S., Tounsi A., AddaBedia E.A. and Meftah S.A. (2007) “Creep and shrinkage effect on adhesive
stresses in RC beay, Vol.67, pp.933–942.

[2] BimalBabuAdhikary and Hiroshi ms strengthened with composite laminates”, Composites Science and
Technolog

[3] Mutsuyoshi. (2006) “Shear strengthening of reinforced concrete beams using various techniques”, Construction
and Building Materials, Vol.20, pp.366–373.

[4] CongqiFanga, Karin Lundgrenb, Liuguo Chena and Chaoying Zhu. (2004) “Corrosion influence on bond in
reinforced concrete”, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol.34, pp.2159–2167.

[5] IS: 269-1989, “Specification of an Ordinary Portland Cement”, Bureau of Indian Standards, NewDelhi.

[6] IS: 456-2000, “Code of Practice in Plain and Reinforced Cement Concrete”, Bureau of Indian Standards,
NewDelhi.

[7] IS: 516-1959, “Test for Strength of Concrete”, Bureau of Indian Standards, NewDelhi.
366 Achudhan et al. / Materials Today: Proceedings 16 (2019) 361–366

[8] Perera R., Recuero A., De Diego A. and Lo´pez C. (2004) “Adherence analysis of fiber-reinforced polymer
strengthened RC beams”, Computers and Structures, Vol.82, pp.1865–1873.
[9] Riyadh Al-Amery and Riadh Al-Mahaidi. (2006) “Coupled flexural–shear retrofitting of Reinforced Concrete
beams using CFRP straps”, Composite Structures, Vol.75, pp.457–464.
[10] SangeetaGadve, Mukherjee A., and Malhotra S.N. (2009) “Corrosion of steel reinforcements embedded in Fibre
Reinforced Polymer wrapped concrete”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol.23, pp.153–161.