Strengthening of RC Slabs with Symmetric Openings Using GFRP Composite Beams

Abstract

This paper describes the results of experimental testing of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite beam strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) slabs with two symmetrical openings. Specimens, one-half scale, have been designed and fabricated to reflect the most common RC bathroom slab used in school buildings. The specimen had dimensions of 2000 mm (width) × 150 mm (thickness) × 3000 mm (length) were used with the two openings of 300 mm × 400 mm. The aim of this study is to investigate the most effective strengthening method using GFRP composite beams in slabs with openings for enhancing the load-carrying capacity and stiffness. Test results showed that the strengthened slabs seems to increase the load-carrying capacity by 29%, 21% and 12% over that of the control specimen for diagonal, parallel and surround strengthening respectively. Furthermore, test results showed that the diagonal-strengthened system is one of the most effective methods for strengthening an RC slab with openings in terms of load-carrying capacity, stiffness and crack patterns.

Strengthening of Rc Slab With Multiple Opening by NSM Technique

“…Strengthening of RC slabs with symmetrical openings using GFRP composite beams were studied by Yeoi Choi et al [1] with two symmetrical openings and one-half scale with a dimension of slab 3000mm x 2000mm x 150 mm and with two openings of 300 mm x 400 mm. The results shows that there is an increasing the load carrying capacity.…”

Flexible Adhesive in Composite-to-Brick Strengthening—Experimental and Numerical Study

“…Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRP) have been investigated intensively and applied in practice for structural strengthening over the last decade [1,2,3,4,5]. The stiff and brittle adhesives, as epoxy resin [6,7,8] or mineral mortars [9,10,11,12,13,14], are applied in composite strengthening systems composed of various high strength fibers, bonded to concrete and masonry substrates.…”

Effect of openings on in-plane structural behavior of reinforced concrete floor slabs

“…These openings will result in diaphragm stiffness reduction and can decrease the load carrying capacity of the member [2,3]. These types of diaphragms are usually designed ignoring opening effects.…”

“…However, slabs were only subjected to out-of-plane gravity loads, and the effect of in-plane loads was not considered [8][9][10]22]. Radik et al [24], Choi [3], and Florut et al [4] investigated the effectiveness of different strengthening methods on improving load carrying capacity of slabs with and without openings using GFRP, FRC, and FRP, while slabs were only subjected to out-of-plane loads and again the effect of in-plane loads was not considered. Zhang et al [29] conducted a numerical study on the effect of openings on floor slabs and concluded that presence of openings play an important role in determining the in-plane behavior of the slabs.…”