Static Response of Corrosion Damaged High Performance Concrete Beams Strengthened with Externally Bonded GFRP Laminates

This paper presents the results of an experimental study conducted to evaluate the static response of corrosion damaged High Performance Concrete (HPC) beams strengthened with externally bonded Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) laminates at the soffit of beam. The experimental study was carried out on 9 Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams of size 3000mm x 150mm x 250 mm cast using high performance concrete. One beam specimen neither corroded nor strengthened to serve as reference beam. Two beams were corroded to serve as corroded control. A reinforcement mass loss of approximately 10% and 25% were used. Corrosion damage was induced on the beams by immersing them in salt solution and applying measured electric current through the reinforcing bars. Two beams were strengthened with UDCGFRP laminates having 3mm and 5mm thickness. Two beams were 10% corroded and strengthened with UDCGFRP laminates having 3mm and 5mm thickness. The remaining Two beams were 25% corroded and strengthened with UDCGFRP laminates having 3mm and 5mm thickness. In total 9 beams were tested under monotonically increasing load and 9 beams were tested under cyclic loading. The variables considered include level of corrosion, type of GFRP laminate and thicknesses of GFRP laminate.The static test results show that the beams strengthened with externally bonded UDCGFRP laminates exhibit increased strength, enhanced flexural stiffness and sufficient ductility.