ENHANCEMENT OF FLEXURAL STRENGTH ON REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS WRAPPED WITH GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED POLYMER

Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures are designed for a particular load carrying capacity and they are expected to function safely during their service life. Several strengthening methods are being adopted to extend the service life of damaged structures. Plate bond ing technique using Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) shows a better choice of strengthening method of RC structural elements. Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) Sheet offers a viable alternative in repair and strengthening of RC structures. The objective of this investigation is to study the effectiveness of the retrofitting beams by fixing GFRP sheet at the tension zone (soffit of beam) for increasing the flexural strength of RC beams. Two point bending flexural tests were conducted up to failure on rei nforced concrete beams retrofitted and control beams.