International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)

Volume 7, Issue 3, MayJune 2016, pp. 3142, Article ID: IJCIET_07_03_004

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ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
IAEME Publication

REHABILITATION OF NORMAL AND

REACTIVE POWDER REINFORCED
CONCRETE BEAMS USING EPOXY
INJECTION TECHNIQUE
Assistant Professor Aamer Najim Abbas
Al-Mustansiriya University, Iraq
Assistant Professor Ali Sabah Ahmed
Al-Mustansiriya University, Iraq
Assistant Professor Saad Khalaf Mohaisen
Al-Mustansiriya University, Iraq
ABSTRACT
The present study outlines behavior of normal and reactive powder
concrete beams repaired with epoxy resin. Such type of epoxy technique made
for cracks width less than (0.05) mm. For this purpose, four reinforced
concrete beams were casted and tested to maintain failure and deformations.
Two amounts of tensile reinforcement ratios and concrete types were used in
this study. The load-deflection behavior, ultimate capacity, mode of failure,
stiffness and toughness were studied.
Cite this Article: Aamer Najim Abbas, Ali Sabah Ahmed and Saad Khalaf
Mohaisen, Rehabilitation of Normal and Reactive Powder Reinforced
Concrete Beams Using Epoxy Injection Technique, International Journal of
Civil Engineering and Technology, 7(3), 2016, pp. 3142.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=7&IType=3

INTRODUCTION
Rehabilitation is considered one of the important branches of structural engineering
because of its great importance in extending the life of the damaged buildings as a
result of age, bad use of the building, an explosion in the building (or nearby
buildings) or as a result of accidental incidents.
The main goal of rehabilitation is to restore the strength of concrete member
before rehabilitation, the rehabilitation process is useful if the above targets are
achieved.
Methods of rehabilitation vary according to the type of damage done on the
structure(1)(2), since there are some cases required removing of structural member and

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Aamer Najim Abbas, Ali Sabah Ahmed and Saad Khalaf Mohaisen

replace it with a new one(3), or is sufficient to remove the damaged part of concrete
member and grouting with a new special concrete (4). In other cases, the damaged
structural member needs to repair by gluing steel strip or carbon fiber sheets (5)(6)(7)(8).
When the damage of concrete member is in the form of cracks not exceeding
(0.05)mm in width, it is restoring to the injection method of epoxy to connect the two
sides of cracked concrete.
There are many researchers studied the injection technique method as one of most
important type of rehabilitation. M. Kunieda et.al (9) studied the behavior of repaired
concrete beams by using epoxy injection technique, they concluded that the flexural
strength and fracture energy of repaired specimens were more than those of the
original specimens.
The performance of epoxy for cracks injection in concrete has been studied by
Anwar shah et.al(10), three beams each having (4600x300x225) mm3 as a dimensions
of (length x depth x width) respectively were examined, they found that the
performance of epoxy for cracks injection was effective in restoring the strength of
beams.
V. Bhikshma et.al(11) used three different types of epoxy resin for repairing the
reinforced concrete beams. Six standard size beams (1500x230x150) mm3 as a
dimensions of (length x depth x width) respectively for M50 grade of concrete were
distress in flexure by applying two points load by taking (90%) of the ultimate load,
then these distressed beams were repaired and reloaded up to the failure. The flexural
strength increased significantly up to about (15%) and deflection were smaller in
reinforced concrete beams repaired with epoxy resin in compare with the reference
specimen.

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
Beams Geometry
All beams were geometrically similar, having dimensions (1200x250x180) mm3 as a
dimensions of (length x depth x width) respectively and loaded through two points
load, the distance between the two points load is (350 mm). The beams are simply
supported and the distance from c/c of` supports was (1050 mm).

Beams Reinforcement
Two different longitudinal bottom reinforcement ratios were used (216 and 316),
the longitudinal top bars and shear reinforcement are kept constant (212) and
(10@100mm) respectively. The tensile strength of deformed bars are (422MPa) and
(385 MPa) for longitudinal and shear reinforcement respectively tested according to
ASTM A615(12).

Compressive Strength
Cubical (150x150x150) mm3 specimens were used to test the compressive strength of
concrete. The compressive test was done according to ASTM C39 (13) and B.S 1881(14)
by using a computerized compression machine. The Table (1) below show the
compressive strength values of each specimen.

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Rehabilitation of Normal and Reactive Powder Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Epoxy
Injection Technique
Table 1 Characteristics of the Tested Beams
Specimens

Type of Concrete

B1

Normal concrete

B2

Normal concrete

B3

Reactive powder
concrete

B4

Reactive powder
concrete

Flexural
Reinforcement

Shear
Reinforcement

Compressive
Strength (MPa)

212 top
2 16 bottom
212 top
3 16 bottom
212 top
2 16 bottom
212 top
3 16 bottom

10@100mm

29

10@100mm

29.7

10@100mm

93

10@100mm

90

Mix Proportions
Table (2) shows the mix proportions were used in tested beams.
Table 2 Mix Proportions
Sand Kg/m3
Passing Through
600Microne Sieve

Gravel Kg/m3
Passing
Through
4.75mm Sieve
Size

w/c
Ratio

SP
Ltr/m3

Silica
Fume
(Kg/m3)

415

535

1250

0.44

800

900

1000

0.30

72

Nominal
Concrete
Strength
(MPa)

Cement
(Kg/m3)

30
92

Technical Properties of Epoxy

Table (3) below contains the technical properties of epoxy resin (quick mast 105) , it
is the product of Ayla company.
Table 3 Technical Properties of Epoxy Resin
Property

No.

Result

Compressive strength

>72 N/mm2 w days w2 c

Flexural strength

>60 N/mm2 w2 c

Tensile strength

>25 N/mm2

Pot Life

60 minutes w2 c

Specific Gravity

1.1

Viscosity

10poise w2 c

Min. application Temperature

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Aamer Najim Abbas, Ali Sabah Ahmed and Saad Khalaf Mohaisen

INJECTION PROCEDURES
The following procedures were followed after primary test:

Cleaning the surface of beams from dust and removing the sharp edges.

Mixing a small quantity of epoxy adhesive (quick mast 341), then applied in (2-3)
mm thick layer to the back and sides of each nipples flange.
Placing each nipple centrally over the drilled hole using a locating rod, the spacing
between nipples enough to fill the crack. This will allow the injected resin to spread
from the injection point and will therefore leak from adjacent nipples, at the same
time as it reaches the base of the cracks.
Sealing the surface of the crack between the nipples with (quick mast 341), (20-30)
mm wide, (2-3) mm thick.
In case the crack extends on both sides, nipples should be fixed to the other face of
concrete member.
Mixing the Two components of the (quick mast 105) until uniform color is achieved.
Pouring the mix resin in to the injection equipment (pressure 4 bars) and start with the
lowest point. The injections continue until mixed resin appears and leaks out the
nipple above.

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Load Deflection Behavior
According to the Figures (1, 2, 3 and 4), there are three main stages along the load
deflection curve. These stages are:
First linear stage: starts at the beginning of loading application until the appearance
of first crack, at this stage the specimens return to the original manner if the load has
been removed.
Second linear stage: starts beyond first crack until yielding of flexural reinforcement,
the specimens cannot return the original manner when removing the load because the
elongation of steel bar and lack of bonding between the elongated bar with concrete.
Third non-linear stage: starts at the yielding of steel bar till failure.
Through an extensive observation, the increasing of deflection with load application is
less in the early stages of loading than in the advanced stages. Also, it observed that
the increments of deflection of reactive powder concrete beams is more than the
normal concrete one (original and repaired beams), this leads to that the normal
concrete beams have a ductility more than the reactive powder concrete beams.

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Rehabilitation of Normal and Reactive Powder Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Epoxy
Injection Technique
200
180
160

Load (kN)

140
120
100
80

B1 Repaired

60

B1 Original

40
20
0
0

2
Deflection (mm)

Figure 1 Load-deflection Curve of Original and Repaired Beam (B1)

250

Load (kN)

200

150

B2 Repaired

100

B2 Original
50

0
0

0.5

1.5
2
Deflection (mm)

2.5

Figure 2 Load-deflection Curve of Original and Repaired Beam (B2)

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Aamer Najim Abbas, Ali Sabah Ahmed and Saad Khalaf Mohaisen

400

350

Load (kN)

300
250
200
150

B3 Repaired

100

B3 Origional

50
0
0

2
Deflection (mm)

Figure 3 Load-deflection Curve of Original and Repaired Beam (B3)

450
400
350

Load (kN)

300
250
200

B4 Repaired

150

B4 Origional

100
50
0
0

3
4
Deflection (mm)

Figure 4 Load-deflection Curve of Original and Repaired Beam (B4)

ULTIMATE AND CRACKING CAPACITY

The ultimate and cracking loads of tested beams are shown in Table (4). The strength
ratio (ratio of the ultimate strength of original specimens to that of the repaired
specimens) is also shown in the same table.
In case of normal strength concrete beams, the ultimate strength of repaired
specimens is more than the original one by about (1.3 and 3.8)% in beams (B1) and
(B2) respectively, unlike the reactive powder concrete beams where the ultimate
strength of repaired beams is less than the original beams by about (1.4 and 1.2)% in
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Rehabilitation of Normal and Reactive Powder Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Epoxy
Injection Technique

beams (B3) and (B4) respectively, this difference belong to the difference between the
compressive strength of concrete and the epoxy resin, where the compressive strength
of reactive powder concrete more than the epoxy resin one, so using these materials
does not contribute to some extent to restore the original beam capacity.
Table (4) also shows that the strength ratio of normal concrete beams is more than
the strength ratio of reactive powder concrete beams.
Through the studying the behavior of beams during load application, it is clear
that the first cracking load of original specimens less than the first cracking load of
repaired specimens by about (8.5, 12, 3.5 and 3.8) % of beams (B1, B2, B3 and B4)
respectively, this is due to a good tensile strength of the epoxy resin which used in
injection.
Table 4 Load Characteristics of Tested Beams
Sample
No.

First
cracking
load
60
65
75
84
127.5
132
180
187

Ultimate
load

% of
improvement
in F.C load

% of improvement
in U.L

Strength
ratio

8.5%

1.3%

0.98

12%

3.8%

0.96

3.5%

-1.4%

1.02

3.8%

-1.2%

1.01

182.5
185
210
218
365
355
390
385

B1', B2', B3' and B4' refer to the repaired beams.

FAILURE MODE
The Figures (5 to 12) show that all the tested specimens (original and repaired) failed
in shear. First cracking occurs at mid-span where the applied moment exceeds the
cracking moment (Mcr) causing reduction in stiffness. Then, the diagonal cracks start
to improve near support towards the top surface of specimen with an angle between
(30-40)o. In general, the ductility of original beams is more than the ductility of
repaired beams.

Figure 5 Failure Pattern of Beam (B1)

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Aamer Najim Abbas, Ali Sabah Ahmed and Saad Khalaf Mohaisen

Figure 6 Failure Pattern of Beam (B1')

Figure 7 Failure Pattern of Beam (B2)

]
Figure 8 Failure Pattern of Beam (B2')

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Rehabilitation of Normal and Reactive Powder Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Epoxy
Injection Technique

Figure 9 Failure Pattern of Beam (B3)

Figure 10 Failure Pattern of Beam (B3')

Figure 11 Failure Pattern of Beam (B4)

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Aamer Najim Abbas, Ali Sabah Ahmed and Saad Khalaf Mohaisen

Figure 12 Failure Pattern of Beam (B4')

STIFFNESS
Stiffness values can be defined as the slope of the line that connects maximum load
carrying capacity point to the origin of load-deflection curve.
In general, there is a decrease in stiffness values after rehabilitation process, see
Table (5). The values of reduction in stiffness is (3.1, 1, 7.75 and 3.1)% in beams
(B1', B2', B3' and B4') in comparison with original beams (B1, B2, B3 and B4)
respectively. The reason of this reduction is due to the decrease of stiffness as a
results of cracks or yielding of reinforcement bars before repairing then weakness of
bond between steel bars and concrete.
Table 5 Stiffness Values of Tested Beams
Sample
No.
Stiffness
Values
Differences
(%)

B1

B1'

B2

B2'

B3

B3'

B4

B4'

67.84

65.74

117.69

116.57

80.1

73.89

88.67

85.98

3.1

7.75

3.1

ENERGY ABSORPTION
The toughness (energy absorption) of a material is defined as the capacity of a
material to absorb energy in the plastic domain up to rupture (15). The method of
determining the toughness from the area under loaddeflection curves. This area gives
an insight of the amount of energy absorption that the member can support up to
failure.
In order to analyze the influence of the rehabilitation on the specimens toughness,
the area under load-deflection curves were calculated numerically. Table (6) shows
the experimental results from the load-deflection curves as well as the determined
toughness coefficients values.

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Rehabilitation of Normal and Reactive Powder Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Epoxy
Injection Technique

In general, the observed values can be justified by the following mechanism: for a
particular steel-bar reinforcement percentage and compressive strength the depth of
the neutral axis decreases for reactive powder concrete repaired beams, this behavior
give rise to an increase of the deflection of beams because the decreasing of effective
moment of inertia of repaired specimens leading to increase the toughness of repaired
specimens. Reversed behavior can be observed in case of normal concrete groups, the
decreasing of effective moment of inertia less than the decreasing in reactive powder
concrete beams, and then decreasing the toughness of repaired specimens.
Table 5 Toughness Coefficients Values of Tested Beams
Specimen No.
Toughness
(Energy Absorption)
Coefficient
kN.mm

B1

B1'

B2

B2'

B3

B3'

B4

B4'

327.4

316.4

850.9

616.2

1306.4

1442.3

264.5

315.5

CONCLUSIONS
The following conclusions can be drawn from the test results and discussions:

The epoxy injection technique restored the original strength.

Using epoxy injection method delayed the appearance of first crack.
All tested specimens (original and repaired) have the same failure pattern.

There is a reduction in stiffness of tested specimens after repairing with epoxy resin.
The energy absorption of reactive powder concrete specimens increased when using
the epoxy resin as a repairing method. Unlike the normal strength concrete
specimens, the value of energy absorption was decreased as a result of repairing
work.

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Aamer Najim Abbas, Ali Sabah Ahmed and Saad Khalaf Mohaisen

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