POSSIBILITY OF REPLACING FIBERS IN FRP SYSTEMS USED AS FLEXURAL POST-STRENGTHENING OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS

Abstract

The use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) to post-strengthen concrete structures started to be investigated in the mid-1970s and today is recognized as an attractive technique to be used in civil structures, especially when aggressive environments prevent the use of materials that are susceptible to corrosion, such as steel. Despite the positive developments regarding the use of FRP in civil structures, some new possibilities are being considered to provide a more efficient, safe and rational use of FRP systems. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of the fiber type replacement in the performance of the FRP post strengthening technique. A experimental program was developed, to compare the behavior of reinforced concrete beams post-strengthened with Carbon, Aramid and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP, AFRP, GFRP) subjected to static loading tests. These experimental results allow the analysis of the quality and shortcomings of post-strengthen systems studied and make possible the identification of the more suitable post-strengthening solution to each circumstance. Keywords: FRP, carbon, aramid, glass, analytical solution, post-strengthening.