Flexural behavior RC beams strengthened and repaired with SRP composites

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation conducted to study the flexural response of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened and repaired using externally bonded steel reinforced polymer (SRP) composite. SRP composite strips were bonded to the tension face of four RC beams, which were tested in four-point bending. Parameters varied were the presence/absence of U-wrap anchorages and loading rate. The difference in the loading rates employed did not appear to have a significant effect on the yield load, maximum load, or failure mode. The strengthening system without anchorage increased the yield load by 16% relative to the control beam, whereas the strengthening system with U-wrap anchorages increased the yield load by 26–34% relative to the control beam. Values of the maximum strain in the composite at the maximum load of the strengthened beams with U-wrap anchorages ranged from 0.9% to 1.2% and were more than twice as large as that of the strengthened beam without anchorage. The peak fiber stress obtained from single-lap direct-shear tests of SRP-concrete joints was similar to the maximum fiber tensile stress obtained by sectional analysis for the strengthened beam without anchorage.