The article presents the studies’ results of the oblique sections strength of 24 reinforced concrete beams, reinforced by three-sided U-shaped carbon fiber collars. The impact of the span section is estimated as 1.5h0 2,0h0 and 2,5h0 on the beams’ composite reinforcement efficiency in the initial inclined cracks presence and absence.

In the theory of reinforced concrete, the issue on strength of the oblique beam sections is more complicated than that on the standard sections, since it depends on many factors. The change of at least one of them leads to a significant change in the carrying capacity and in the structural damage pattern. This is due to the fact that at the operating level of the load, all conventional reinforced concrete structures work with cracks, which must be considered in the calculation. However, in the existing regulatory documents and public sources, this issue is not specified. This paper considers the effect of initial cracks on the strength of oblique cross sections of the reinforced concrete beams strengthened with carbon fiber. The experimental studies results obtained through the transverse force testing of forty-two prototypes made of heavy concrete of B30 design grade are presented. The test samples had initial oblique cracks of 0.6-0.9 mm width and were reinforced with three composite U stirrups from the fabric based on unidirectional carbon fibers in the shear span. Initial cracks in the beams were formed at three values of the shear span – 1.5h0, 2h0 and 2.5h0. The test data show the impact of initial cracks on the efficiency of composite reinforcement of oblique cross sections of the prototypes at various values of shear spans.

Abstract.Creation of reinforced concrete constructions of ideally equal resistance is practically impossible, however maximum approximation to such solution should become the main purpose of constructions designing, since it provides for minimal materials consumption. Changing of total cross section of pre-stressed reinforcement along the span with the purpose of approximation to elements of equal resistance is possible during creation of stepped section of the element. In particular, the suggested solution allows to closely approximate the ideal beam of equal resistance, at which with decrease of external moment the height of element's cross-section and the area of cross-section of extrastrong pre-stressed reinforcement are also decreased. In accordance with the existing reinforced concrete construction with the same class of concrete, reinforcement steel and load the suggested one due to more advanced profile is the most economic -the consumption of steel, concrete and weight of the beam are lower in it. This increases the ecological safety of constructions, as well.

The article presents the studies’ results on the deformability and strength of reinforced concrete racks reinforced with composite materials with the characteristics stretching beyond the limits established by the norms of Russia, namely: the λh structures flexibility exceeding the value 15, the ratio of the cross-section sides equal to 1.5 and the eccentricity of the load application e0 exceeding 0.1h. The results of the tested racks calculations are analyzed according to BC 164.1325800.2014, which in some cases confirmed the inexpediency of using composite materials. However, according to the results of our experiment, an increase in the strength of a number of racks with the characteristics that go beyond the recommended standards was found. The purpose of this study is to check the methodology for calculating Russian norms for the compressed reinforced concrete elements, the parameters of which are outside the limits recommended by the norms, to develop proposals for improving the calculation based on the obtained experimental data and to determine the concrete deformability effect on the change in bearing capacity. The article discusses flexible struts, reinforced with composite materials, located in the transverse direction. The experimental data results on the deformability of concrete and the strength of struts reinforced in the transverse direction are presented. The calculation methodology, compiled in accordance with Russian standards, the calculation results of which are the theoretical values ​​of the deformability of concrete and the strength of the racks, is considered. After comparison, a significant underestimation of the theoretical strengths and a mismatch in the struts’ concrete deformations were revealed. It was found that the change in compressive deformations of concrete depends on the external composite reinforcement. Theoretical values , calculated according to the current standards, have significant discrepancies with the experimental ones. Based on the experiments’ results analysis, in the methodology of norms for calculating the ultimate compressive deformations of concrete the suggestions that take into account the type and percentage of composite reinforcement and ensure a good agreement between experimental and theoretical values have been made. After the introduction of the coefficient into normative calculation, new data on the theoretical strength of the struts were obtained, which showed significantly better convergence with the experimental data.