An experimental study on flexural strengthening methods of reinforced concrete beams using high-toughness polymer cement mortar and continuous fiber reinforcements

Abstract

In this study, experimental investigations were conducted regarding flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams using high-toughness polymer cement mortar (HTPCM) and continuous fiber reinforcements. Our results showed that using the HTPCM as section recovering and thickening materials is effective in improving flexural strengthening effect of continuous fiber sheets/plates and rods on RC beams, because diagonal tensile cracking in tension-side covering concrete and bond-splitting failure of thickened part are prevented by the HTPCM. Furthermore, it was also shown that the flexural strengthening effect does not remarkably decline by upward execution, if plastering thickness of HTPCM of one time is adjusted to 6 mm or less.