Effects of CFRP Configuration on Strengthening Beams for Shear

Abstract

Composites made of fiber reinforced polymers have been utilized in both new construction and structural rehabilitation. They have been used as formwork, reinforcement in concrete, bridges, decks, modular structures, and external reinforcement for seismic upgrading and strengthening while taking benefit-cost analysis into account. Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars possess the ability to be used in flexural and shear, while there has been many studies concerning the flexural capacity of FRP bars in the context of structural rehabilitation, there is still a very limited information regarding its shear capacity, which calls for further investigation given its encouraging structural performance outcomes. The most practicable strengthening procedures are embedded through section, externally bonded reinforcement, and the near-surface method. The near-surface method is applied in our experimental program which is suggested as the most efficient method to strengthen in shear.Analyzing the shear impacts of NSM CFRP rods in structurally reinforced beams and studying the effects of CFRP configuration in strengthening beams for shear are the primary objectives of this project. To achieve that, two full-scale rectangular RC beams were cast. One beam is strengthened externally with vertical CFRP bars, and the other is strengthened at a 45° angle with CFRP bars, keeping same rod spacing constant in both.The overall findings demonstrated that the CFRP rods strengthening enhanced the shear resistance of the two-configuration beam in a similar manner, therefore, reinforcing CFRP using the NSM methodology is an effective method of strengthening beams in shear, plus thatthe 45° angle configuration exhibited similar results as the 90° angle strengthened one.