PERFORMANCE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS WITH EXTERNAL REINFORCEMENT

Abstract

Concrete structures can be strengthened in situ by bonding steel plates to it, using epoxy resin. This is a relatively newer approach and considered as an effective and convenient method for improving their behaviour under service loads and also in increasing their ultimate capacity. Another advantage of this technique is that of negligible changes in member dimensions. The flexural behaviour of reinforced concrete beams having external reinforcement in the form of steel plates glued on the tension side is investigated experimentally. Study shows that due to external reinforcement, the first crack load, serviceability loads and ultimate strength of these reinforced concrete beams increased considerably. Also because of increased stiffening effect, deformations and crack width were reduced. Existing flexural members can be strengthened by using this technique.