Flexural Performance of Strengthened Glued Laminated (GLULAM) Timber Beam Using Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP)

Abstract

Several reinforcement applications using glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) as strengthening material show greater structural strength without an increase of its dimensions. Though reinforcement is proven to be workable, there is minimal understanding of the optimum area should the GFRP be used in strengthening. This research aims to investigate this issue by testing the GFRP strengthening of glulam beams with a dimension of 80 mm x 140 mm x 3000 mm under four-point flexural loading. Three (3) specimens of each made for control, and three different areas covered by GFRP, are 30% (G30), 40% (G40), and 50% (G50), respectively. Results