HIGH PERFORMANCE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS USING CARBON FIBRE REINFORCED POLYMERS

Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer, CFRP, is being increasingly used in civil engineering structures. For strengthening of existing concrete structures, the material has been extensively tried in concrete beams for enhancement in flexure, and in shear. In masonry structures, attempts have been made to strengthen shear walls. CFRP is now being suggested as cables for cable stayed bridges. In this paper, the feasibility of utilising CFRP strips, as main reinforcement embedded in concrete beams is investigated. Two beams with encased CFRP strips in the form of I-section and truss were constructed and tested in flexure to failure. The results of the test are discussed. The test proves that CFRP embedded in concrete provides an efficient form of reinforcement, and with well-distributed and uniform cracks in the stressed area. The failure load obtained in one test was 41% higher than that predicted by strain-compatibility approach.