Prediction of Flexural Capacity of RC Beams Strengthened in Flexure with FRP Fabric and Cementitious Matrix

Abstract EN

This paper presents both experimental and analytical research results for predicting the flexural capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened in flexure with fabric reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM).

In order to assess the efficiency of the FRCM-strengthening method, six beams were strengthened in flexure with FRCM composite having different amounts and layers of FRP fabric and were tested under four-point loading.

From test results, it was confirmed that the slippage between the FRP fabric and matrix occurs at a high strain level, and all of the FRCM-strengthened beams failed by the debonding of the FRCM.

Additionally, a new bond strength model for FRCM considering the slippage between fabric and matrix was proposed, using a test database to predict the strengthening performance of the FRCM composite.

The prediction of the proposed bond strength model agreed well with the debonding loads of the test database.