LOAD BEARING CAPACITY OF RC CROSS SECTION STRENGTHENED WITH FRP REINFORCEMENT

Abstract

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials are relatively new, high-strength, low-weight composite materials that are most often made of carbon (CFRP) or glass (GFRP) fibers embedded in a polymer matrix. The load-bearing capacity of the RC section is increased by adding reinforcement of FRP material to reinforced concrete (RC) elements, either in the form of externally bonded laminates (Externally bonded - EB method) or by installing in a protective layer of concrete (Near surface mounted - NSM method). The paper presents an analytical study of the cross - sectional behaviour of RC beams, strengthened for flexure with FRP materials.