Flexural strengthening of reinforcement concrete beams using high performance fiber reinforcement cement-based composite (HPFRCC) and carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP)

This paper presents a strengthening method using a combination of high performance fiber reinforced cement-based composite (HPFRCC) and carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP). For evaluating the performance of this approach, reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with CFRP sheets have been tested to failure. In order to better control the cracking of concrete and prevent/delay the debonding of the CFRP sheets, a high performance material based on HPFRCC with specially designed microfibers has been mixed to be applied in a transition layer. As a result, a material with pseudo strain-hardening behavior, high strength and fracture toughness has been obtained. The application of the CFRP in the transition layer surface constituted by HPFRCC significantly improved the performance of the tested specimens. Results show that this technique may provide a safer alternative for the flexure strengthening of RC beams.