CYCLIC BEHAVIOUR OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS RETROFITTED WITH EXTERNALLY BONDED SIFCON LAMINATES

The aim of the research work is to present the results of experimental and analytical studies concerning the cyclic behaviour of reinforced concrete (RC) beams retrofitted with externally bonded Slurry Infiltrated Fibrous Concrete (SIFCON). This study presents a method for retrofitting of reinforced concrete beams to enhance the actual load carrying capacity using High Performance Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Composites (HPFRCCs) laminates SIFCON and which are directly bonded to the tension face at the soffit of the beam by epoxy adhesives and are tested under compression cyclic loading. A total of four beams of size 125 mm width × 250 mm depth × 3200 mm length with effective span of 3000 mm are cast and tested in the laboratory. The laminates of size 125 mm width × 25 mm depth × 2950 mm length are bonded in between the beam supports. Two beams were retrofitted with SIFCON laminates (RBSF1 and RBSF2) and remaining two beams were tested under compression cyclic loading (CB1 and CB2) as a base line specimen. Cyclic responses of all the beams were evaluated in terms of strength, stiffness, ductility ratio, energy absorption capacity factor, compositeness between laminate and concrete, and the associated failure modes. Comparison was made between the numerical (ANSYS) with the experimental results. The results show that the strengthened beams exhibit increased flexural strength, enhanced flexural stiffness, and composite action until failure.