Cyclic Behaviour of High Performance Concrete Beams Strengthened with GFRP Sheets

Abstract

This paper indicates the difference between the strengthened reinforced high performance concrete beams and the normal reinforced high performance concrete beams. This paper shows the cyclic behaviour of the two types of beams. Experimental investigations were carried out on reinforced High Performance Concrete (HPC) beams of size 150 mm × 250 mm × 3000 mm under both static loading and cyclic loading separately under four point bending. It was observed that the trend in behaviour of the load-deflection curve of the beams was showing the same trend of normal reinforced concrete beams under static loading. In static loading the strain energy absorbed by the beams were observed to be the same as calculated with the area under the load-deflection curve. Other beam was tested under cyclic load separately. The load applied was 35% of static ultimate load which was uniform throughout the fatigue testing of the beams. It was observed that the deflections were increased with the number of cycles. Some of the beams were strengthened by different types and thickness of the GFRP sheets. It was also observed that the strengthened beams withstood more number of cycles than normal HPC beams. The paper presents in detail the experimental investigations conducted on beams and pertinent conclusions drawn therefrom.