FLEXURAL BEHAVIOR OF RC BEAMS WITH HYBRID FRP STRENGTHENING

This paper explores the possibility of using externally bonded Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Polymer (HyFRP) with the combinations glass (GFRP) and carbon (CFRP) based laminate to strengthen the Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams against flexure. For this purpose a total of five beams were cast and tested. The beams were with a cross section of 150 mm × 250 mm and 3000 mm long. Four point loading was applied to test the flexural strength of beams over a simply supported span of 2800 mm. Out of five beams, one beams served as reference specimen and the other four beams were made with hybrid FRP laminates on their soffit. Spacing of stirrups, thickness of HYFRP laminate and composite ratio was taken as varying parameters. Sufficient data was obtained on the strength, deformation and failure characteristics of Hybrid Fibre Reinforced Polymer laminated (HyFRP) as well as reference beams. The Hybrid Fibre Reinforced Polymer (HyFRP) strengthened reinforced concrete beams exhibit increased strength and composite action until failure.