Amelioration of Flexural Performance for Reinforced Concrete Beams by Soffit Bonded High Performance Self Compacting Concrete Prisms

Abstract

This paper presents a strengthening technique using a high-performance fibre-reinforced cement-based composite (HPFRCC) mixture. To evaluate the performance of this approach, two types of concrete mixtures were used one high performance and other high strength in strengthening process and compared to strengthening using CFRP laminate. The results showed that the strengthening was in the proportions (42 %, 58.03 %, 74.32 %) for (Mhs, Mcfrp, Mhp), respectively, Where the strengthening improved the bending capacity for beam (Mhp) to a greater extent of the other types and it reduced the appearance of cracks in the beam when loading until occur failure. As appeared failure modes in all elements were due to rupture in the flexure region and crush in the compression region. In addition, ductility index of the strengthened beams was acceptable and energy absorption of the strengthened samples high if compared to the reference beam Therefore, it can be said that this technology may provide a safer alternative for flexural strengthening of RC beams.