Title:
Flexural Strengthening of Four 76-Year-Old T-Beams
with Various Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Systems:
Testing and Analysis
Author(s):
Bahram M. Shahrooz, Serpil Boy, and T. Michael Baseheart
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
99
Issue:
5
Appears on pages(s):
681-691
Keywords:
anchorage; beam; fiber reinforcement; flexure; post-tensioning
DOI:
10.14359/12308
Date:
9/1/2002
Abstract:
Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) plates and fabrics have emerged as viable systems for the retrofitting of existing reinforced members with insufficient capacity. The results from previous research, conducted predominately on laboratory specimens, have been recently used to develop design guidelines. Detailed destructive testing of existing, aged members retrofitted with FRP systems is very limited. This study was conducted to examine the performance of four 76-year-old, deteriorated reinforced concrete beams retrofitted with external carbon FRP (CFRP) post-tensioning rods, bonded CFRP plates, bonded CFRP fabrics, and bonded CFRP plates with mechanical anchors, respectively. The various FRP systems studied in this research produced different failure modes and strength gains. Despite the extensive deterioration and age of the beams, the retrofitted beams could develop and exceed the expected capacity computed based on available design guides. For cases where guidelines were not available, simple, yet effective, methods were developed to establish the capacity of the retrofitted beams.