Strength Evaluation of

Shear Deficient RCC Beams

Strengthened With Fiber
Reinforced Polymer

Group Members
KOMAL CHAUDHRY 11-CE-83
HINA ZAIB 11-CE-09
SHAGUFTA 11-ce-78
Project Supervisor
Maam Mehwish Asad

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Objectives

Literature Review

Beam Design

Methodology

Procedure

Results and Discussions

Conclusions

Acknowledgements

References

Abstract

The objective of this thesis is to investigate experimentally the

behavior of reinforced concrete beams in shear, laminated with CFRP,
in order to arrive at a working model and equation for predicting the
shear strength of these structural members. Structures that are
deficient due to either a structural flaw or deterioration can be
brought to a useful capacity using CFRP. The research program
consists of 3 RCC beams of different depths. The effects of different
depths on the shear strength of beams is investigated by
experimental procedure. The beams are tested until their structural
failure is achieved. CFRP lamination will then be applied on the failed
area of beams. It is expected that the application of fiber wax leads to
a significant improvement in the shear strength of the specimens.

Introduction

Shear deficient reinforced concrete beams can be

effectively strengthened using external fiber
reinforced polymer (FRP) lamination. Due to the
presence of the external elastic straps, a
strengthened beam can continue to carry significant
load beyond the stages of crack plane slipping and
internal shear stirrup yielding, and the concrete is
subjected to high tensile strain levels.

Objectives

The main objectives of current research are

To study the structural behavior of reinforced concrete shear

deficient beams under static loading condition.

To study the contribution of reinforced polymers on shear behavior of

reinforced concrete beams.

To examine the effect of different fiber orientations, number of layers

etc. on the response of beam in terms of failure modes,
enhancement of load carrying capacity and load deflection behavior.

To investigate the effect of a new anchorage scheme on the shear

capacity of beam.

Fiber Reinforced Polymer

Fiber Reinforced Polymers(FRP) are a particular typology of

composite materials, made of high resistance fibers
impregnated with polymeric resins. The mixing result is a
material with properties between fiber and resin.

FRP materials are distinguished by excellent tensile strength

properties in the direction of the fibers and by negligible
strength in the transverse to the fibers; this illustrates the
anisotropic nature of these materials. FRP composites do not
yield, but instead are elastic up to failure and they are also
characterized by relatively low modulus of elasticity in
tension and low compressive properties.

Carbon Reinforced Fiber

The organic materials which contain a substantial

amount of carbon are headed to produce fibers such
as ryon, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), or pitch (a black
residue from distillation of petroleum) in an inert
environment. This kind of fiber is the strongest,
stiffest and most durable. They are more expensive
than glass fibers but offer an excellent combination
of strength, low weight, and high modulus and
fatigue properties.

Contd.

Advantages of FRP
The general advantages of FRP reinforcement
compared to steel are:

Durability in aggressive environments

High strength-to-durability ratio

Magnetic and electric neutrality

Low specific weight

Low axial coefficient of thermal expansion

Beam details
Three beams were tested of different depths i.e. 12, 15 and 18. They were
entitled the IDs of SDS, SDM and SDD respectively. Their details are given as
below:
Group
Cross-Section
of Beam
SDS

9x12

SDM

9x15

SDD

9x18

Mix Design ratio: 1:2:4.

28 days concrete cylinder strength: 3500 psi
All beams were designed with zero shear reinforcement in shear span to assess the shear
failure
To provide sufficient flexure capacity, reinforcement ratio was kept nearly maximum and
constant in all beams.

Beam Structural Design

Beam

Depth

Clear

Shear

ID

of

Span

Span

Beam
h

a
(inch)

(inch)
SDS

12

98

Effecti

ve

depth

(in)

(in)

26.5

10

Tension Compressio

Transverse

Reinforcem

Reinforcem

ent

Reinforcem

ent

a/d

ent
()
()

2.65

3 #5 bars

2#3 bars

#2 @ 13 c/c

(0.91)

(0.22)

Only in zero
shear zone

SDM

15

98

34.5

13

2.65

3 #6 bars
(1.32)

2#3 bars

#2 @ 12 c/c

(0.22)

Only in zero
shear zone

SDD

18

98

42.5

16

2.65

2 #6 and 2
#5
bars
(1.49)

2#3 bars

#2 @ 6 c/c

(0.22)

Only in zero
shear zone

Methodology
Preliminary
Design
Concrete
Mix
Design

RC Beams
Casting
Preparati
on of
Formwork
Steel
Fixing

Curing

Testing RC
Beams

CFRP
Wrapping

Testing
Strengthen
ed Beams

Procedure

The beams specimens were tested under the application of symmetric loading
at the centerline of two bearing plates through hydraulic system, transferring
the load through calibrated proving ring, to evaluate the shear behavior of
beams.

The loads were gradually increased and cracks developed in the beam
specimens were closely observed. The loads and deflections of a beam
corresponding to these cracks were also recorded.

The cracked beams were wrapped using CFRP lamination. After treatment,
beams were again tested under static gradually increasing loading. Deflection
was recorded and cracks observed.

CFRP Repaired Beams

Results

Beam deflections to the corresponding loads were recorded. Strain has been calculated for each beam
against those displacements.

Following are the graphs plotted for load against strain.

Beam #1 : SDS
Load on a point
(kN)

Beam Response

107

1st diagonal crack on one

side

113

1st diagonal crack on both

sides

122.49

Beam failure

Load on a point
(kN)

Beam responses

138

1st diagonal crack on one

side

146

1st diagonal crack on both

sides

168.969

Beam failure

Load on a point
(kN)

Beam responses

169

1st diagonal crack on one

side

177

2nd diagonal crack on both

sides

192.66

Beam Failure

Comparison of Load and corresponding

strains of all Beams

Strain for beams against subjected loading after

CFRP lamination, is shown in tabular form below

SDS

SDM

SDD

Original
Beam

Strengthen
ed Beam

Original
Beam

Strengthen
ed Beam

Original
Beam

Strengthen
ed Beam

0.031

0.019

0.0224

0.0194

0.0166

0.0106

Conclusions
In this research, we presented the results of an experimental investigation carried out on beams
reinforced by CFRP sheets and finalized to evaluate the ultimate shear capacity of these elements and
the composite contribution to the shear strength. Following were concluded from experimental results
Cracked

beams achieve 93% of the strength (on average) when laminated with CFRP.

For

beams with larger depth to span ratios, laminated beams showed greater recovery in strength as
compared to those with lesser depth to span ratio.
Failure
Strain

mode is de-bonding of CFRP laminate.

was overall reduced for beams strengthened with CFRP.

Acknowledgement

The work described has been realized with the co-operation of the
Concrete Laboratory staff and Lab Engineers. The financial assistance
by University of Engineering & Technology Taxila , is gratefully
acknowledged.
We are highly grateful to our project supervisor Engr. Mehwish Asad

Recomendation

It has been recommended for future studies to investigate the

orientation and quantity of lamination to strengthen RC beams.
Also to increase the reliability of experimental results, it is
required to test beams with greater depths. It can help in
developing relationships between quantity of CFRP against
different depths.

References

Catalin

Andrei Neagoe, Concrete Beams Reinforced with CFRP Laminates, Department of Strength
of Materials and Structural Engineering, Polytechnic University of Catalonia.
Ahmad Sabry Farghaly and Brahim Benmokrane, Shear Behavior of Concrete Deep Beams without
Web Reinforcement, Journal of Composites for Construction. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)CC.19435614.0000385

C.A.

Zeris, Experimental Investigation Of Strengthening Of Non Ductile Rc

Beams

Using FRP, Proceedings of the 8th U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, San
Francisco, California, USA