Shear Strengthening of T Beams with FRP Composites

This study deals with experimental investigation for strengthening structurally deficient T-beams by using fiber reinforced polymer (FRP). Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) is a very effective way to repair and strengthening structures that have become structurally weak over their life span. Due to their lightweight, high tensile strength, and ease to install on irregular surfaces, the use of FRP systems for the repair and strengthening of reinforced concrete structures has become an accepted practice within civil engineering community. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the shear performance and failure modes of RC T-beams strengthened with externally bonded FRP sheets. In order to achieve these objectives, an experimental program conducted consisting of testing of full scale RC beams was carried out. Experimental data on load, deflection and failure modes of each of the beams were obtained. The effect of different amount and configuration of FRP on ultimate load carrying capacity and failure mode of the beams were investigated. The performance of the analytical models considering the effective strain concept appeared to be more reliable to predict the shear strength for both small and large scale beams than the ones considering non-uniform distribution of strains in FRP.