EFFICIENCY OF USING SOME OF THE MODERN MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES FOR REPAIR AND STRENGTHENING OF REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Abstract

Recently the application of fiber reinforced plastics [FRP] laminates as a strengthening and repair material for different reinforced concrete elements become a most suitable solution instead of traditional solutions. These advanced composite materials (ACM) reached a very high grade between strengthening and repair materials because of its advantages such as low weight, high strength, ease in application and high chemical resistance. An experimental work was carried out to investigate the behavior of reinforced concrete beams strengthened and repaired suing two different types of fiber reinforced plastics [FRP] laminates. Behavior of these advanced composite materials can be investigated through recording deflection, initial cracking load, failure load, strain values and crack propagation at different loading stages for the tested beams.

Many variables such as number of fiber reinforced plastics laminates, type of fiber used at fiber reinforced plastics [FRP] laminates and the shape used of fiber reinforced plastics [FRP] laminates were discussed with consideration the recorded values for deflection, initial cracking load, failure load and crack propagation patterns as mentioned at chapter (7).

8.2. Conclusions

These thesis results can be summarized at the following conclusions for the reinforced concrete beams:

I- The use of the fiber reinforced plastics [FRP] materials had a great effect for improving the flexural capacity of the reinforced concrete beams.