Strengthening of RC T-beams with shear deficiencies using GFRP strips

Abstract

The shear performance, modes of failure, and strain analysis of simply supported reinforced concrete (RC) T-beams, externally strengthened in shear using epoxy bonded glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) strips are focused in the present paper. Six RC T-beams of 2.5 m span without shear reinforcement are cast. Three beams are used as control specimens and rest three beams are strengthened in shear with GFRP strips in U-shape, side bonded at 45° and 90° to the longitudinal axis of the beam. All the beams are tested in a Universal Testing Machine. The test results demonstrate the feasibility of using an externally applied, epoxy-bonded GFRP strips to restore or increase the shear strength of RC T-beams. It is also observed that the RC T-beams strengthened by diagonal side strips outperformed those strengthened with vertical side strips.