EXPERIMENTAL BEHAVIOUR OF REINFORCED CONCRETE CORBELS STRENGTHENED WITH CARBON FIBRE REINFORCED POLYMER STRIPS

Abstract

This research is devoted to investigate the effect of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)strips on the behaviour and load carrying capacity of strengthened and repaired reinforced concretecorbels. Experimental investigation were carried. The experimental program variables includelocation, direction, amount of CFRP strips and effect of shear span to effective depth (a/d) ratio onthe behaviour of strengthened corbels. All corbels had the same dimensions and flexuralreinforcement and they were without horizontal shear steel reinforcement. The experimental resultsobtained from the adopted strengthening and repairing CFRP techniques showed a significantimprovement in the behaviour and carrying capacity of the tested corbels. An increase of about (44.5- 60) % in the ultimate load has been obtained for specimens strengthening by inclined techniquecompared to the ultimate load of control corbel and (14.7 - 31.2)% for specimens strengtheninghorizontal technique. For corbels repaired with CFRP strips, an increase of (56%) with respect to theultimate load of control corbel is achieved. Also the strengthened corbels show stiffer load deflectionresponse than corresponding control corbels (unstrengthened corbels).