Shear Capacity of RC Beams Strengthened with Steel Reinforced Grout (SRG)

This experimental investigation was centered on five beams (long 3000 mm) considering as study parameters the presence/absence of mechanical anchors and the continuous/discontinuous U-Wrap of the SRG strips, anchored at both vertical sides by glass nails. Results of the tests allow a comparison of the performances of this anchoring system with that of the U-wrap system. Failure modes, ultimate loads, load-deflection curves were analyzed, which evidenced the SRG composites as an effective strengthening system of reinforced concrete structures. Finally, a numerical model implemented in a finite element code is proposed; it was adopted to analyze the mechanical performances of the strengthened reinforced concrete beams SRG system until their collapse. The implemented numerical procedure is verified by a comparison between its predictions and test results in terms of ultimate loads and load-deflection diagrams.