Experimental investigation on rehabilitation of reinforced concrete structures

Abstract

Concrete is recognized to be a relatively brittle material when subjected to normal loads and impact loads, since tensile strength of conventional concrete is roughly about one tenth of its compressive strength. Steel reinforcement is used to overcome highly potential tensile stresses and shear stresses at critical locations in a concrete member. There is a keen need all over the world for strengthening and repairing of the damaged reinforced concrete structures. Recent advanced research proved that Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites are attractive alternate to other traditional techniques in the field of strengthening and repairing of concrete elements. Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites helps in improving the load carrying capacity, impact resistance and for arresting crack growth in the structural members. Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) have been extensively used as internal reinforcing material as well as external wraps for the strengthening and rehabilitation of structural elements. Synthetic Fibre Reinforced Polymers such as AFRP/CFRP/GFRP have been used for strengthening and retrofitting activity for the past 30 years. This Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRP) wrapping improves the integrity of the structure there by acts as an outer strengthening layer to the structural elements. newline