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The topic of the article is the analysis of the static work of unreinforced and reinforced with composite material timber beams under bending tests. The results of the experimental tests and a brief outline of the characteristics of the internal reinforcement of wood structures are presented. Experimental tests were performed on full-scale beams made of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) with nominal dimensions of 45 × 200 × 3400 mm. Two strips of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcement were glued into rectangular grooves in the component bottom with two-component epoxy resin (0.62% reinforcement percentage). The reinforcement mainly affected the enhancement of the maximum bending moment values evaluated at the points of application as having concentrated forces of 32% and 24% in comparison to the unreinforced elements. Increases of 11% and 7% in the global modulus of elasticity in the bending and stiffness coefficients were achieved, respectively. The failure of the reference beams was caused by exceeding the tensile strength of the LVL. The reinforced elements were characterized by a greater variation in failure mode, resulting from tension, compression or lateral torsional buckling. The strain profile reading showed a higher utilization of the compression characteristic of veneer in specimens reinforced with carbon laminates.

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Due to limitations of traditional measuring methods, a necessity of verification of applicability of optical measuring systems in different fields of science is required. The paper presents the application of a non-contact, non-destructive ARAMIS optical system in the analysis of static work of unstrengthened and strengthened laminated veneer lumber beams (LVL) with composite materials, subjected to a four-point bending test. The beams were strengthened with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) sheets and laminates. The sheets were bonded to the external surfaces in three configurations differing in the number of layers applied and the degree of coverage of the side surface. The CFRP laminates were glued into predrilled grooves and applied to the underside of the beams. An adhesive based on epoxy resin was used. The scope of the work includes analysis of the strain distribution, stiffness and ductility. The analysis was performed on the basis of measurements made with an optical measurement system. The strain analysis indicated a change of the distribution of the strain in the compressive zone from linear for the unstrengthened to bilinear for the strengthened beams. The stiffness increase was equal from 14% up to 45% for the application of the CFRP laminates in the grooves and CFRP sheets bonded externally, respectively. Similar improvement was obtained for the ductility.

Existing buildings, especially historical buildings, require periodic or situational diagnostic tests. If a building is in use, advanced non-destructive or semi-destructive methods should be used. In the diagnosis of reinforced concrete structures, tests allowing to assess the condition of the reinforcement and concrete cover are particularly important. The article presents non-destructive and semi-destructive research methods that are used for such tests, as well as the results of tests performed for selected elements of a historic water tower structure. The assessment of the corrosion risk of the reinforcement was carried out with the use of a semi-destructive galvanostatic pulse method. The protective properties of the concrete cover were checked by the carbonation test and the phase analysis of the concrete. X-ray diffractometry and thermal analysis methods were used for this. In order to determine the position of the reinforcement and to estimate the concrete cover thickness distribution, a ferromagnetic detection system was used. The comprehensive application of several test methods allowed mutual verification of the results and the drawing of reliable conclusions. The results indicated a very poor state of the reinforcement, loss in the depth of cover and sulphate corrosion.