International Concrete Abstracts Portal

Current design methods for predicting deflections and crack widths at service load in concrete structures reinforced with steel bars may not be necessarily applicable in those reinforced with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars. In this paper, methods for predicting deflections and crack widths and spacing of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforced concrete beams were proposed. In order to use the effective moment of inertia for concrete beams reinforced with FRP bars, the effect of reinforcement ratios and elastic modulus of the FRP reinforcement were incorporated in Branson’s equation. This paper also presents a new equation to predict crack width. Six concrete beams reinforced with different GFRP reinforcement ratios were tested. Deflections and crack widths were measured and compared with those obtained by the proposed models. The comparison between the experimental results and those predicted was in good agreement.

This paper summarizes research findings on the use of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets for shear strengthening of pretensioned AASHTO bridge girders. The research includes an experimental program conducted at the University of Manitoba using scale models of pretensioned concrete girders in composite action with the deck slab. Seven ten meter long beams were strengthened with three different types of CFRP sheets using ten different configurations and were tested to failure at each end. The paper describes the experimental program, test results, failure mechanisms and the effectiveness of each configuration of CFRP sheets. A rational model is introduced to define the contribution of the CFRP sheets to the shear resistance in addition to the contributions provided by the stirrups and the concrete for I-shaped pretensioned concrete members. Test results are used to verify the proposed model.

AFRP tensile elements (bars, strands etc.) can be successfully applied for the pre-tensioning of precast concrete members, for post-tensioning tendons, ground anchors etc. In such applications, the AFRP may come into permanent contact with the alkaline pore solution of concrete or cementitious grout. Many tests prove that such aggressive environment may seriously damage the stressed AFRP and significantly abbreviate its lifetime due to premature stress rupture. The stress rupture strength of FRP is the relevant durability property to ensure the serviceability and safety of a structural concrete member during its service life. The stress rupture behaviour is usually studied on stressed AFRP bars placed in aggressive solutions etc.. It is though evident that such severe environment does not realistically reflect the true environment of AFRP in dense concrete and grout. It is was therefore the aim of the authors to develop - on basis of experiments in several stages and by theoretical studies - an engineering model for the prediction of the stress rupture strength of stressed AFRP in concrete or grout. This model was verified by tests. Provided the stress rupture strength of AFRP in dry air or in alkaline solution etc. was experimentally established afore-hand, the parameters of the mean stress rupture relationship can be sharpened. Additional deliberations are however necessary to transfer the model into the real environment of concrete or grout around the FRP element. Suitable procedures are presented.

Using the database consisting of 236 R/C column specimens conducted in Japan, the characteristic behaviors of strengthening by fiber wrapping were analyzed. The following findings were obtained: (1) The amount of shear reinforcement, the span to depth ratio, the axial compressive stress level influence on the strength and deformation capacities of retrofitted columns by fiber sheet wrapping (2) Shear strength of retrofitted columns can be predicted by previous design equations based on the strut and tie models as same as for usual R/C columns, in which the effective fiber strains of about 1% is appropriate. (3) There are few test data about the confining effect of fiber sheet wrapping on bond resistance of longitudinal bars. Further research effort is required to evaluate the shear strength of columns governed by the splitting of cover concrete along longitudinal bars. (4) The ductility ratio can be roughly estimated as a function of the shear to flexural strength ratio. (5) For the specimens with plain round longitudinal bars, the previous equations based on the strut and tie model cannot be applied because of the poor bond capacity.

This paper discusses the procedure and results from in-situ load tests performed on strengthened double tee beams in a precast parking garage. The load tests were performed to evaluate and confirm the performance of the double tees after the members had been strengthened in shear. Carbon FRP sheets were used as shear reinforcement at a 0/90° combination on the stem of each double tee. Load tests were performed on twenty double tees at various locations and floor levels of the parking structure. Each complete load test, including assembling and dismantling of the test equipment, was completed in approximately three hours. Results indicate that the shear strengthening systems increased the capacity of the double tee beams to meet the design load requirements.