Shear repaired RC beam by FRP bonding with external post-tensioning

Various factors including increase in traffic volume and weight, structural aging and environmental impact cause damage in structural members. This raise the importance of the maintenance, rehabilitation, and strengthening of reinforced concrete members. Several techniques have been used to strengthen these structures around the world. External post-tensioning is one of the widely used strengthening techniques in many countries due to its advantages over other strengthening methods. Although flexural strengthening of existing structural members is a very well established method, shear strengthening of structural members, especially with existing shear cracks has attained very little attention from researchers. Similarly, external fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) bonding for shear strengthening of structural members, especially with existing shear cracks is a relatively new area of research. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with existing shear cracks by external post-tensioning and external FRP bonding. The test result showed that the combined strengthening technique of external post-tensioning and external FRP bonding can effectively increase the shear capacity of RC beams with existing shear cracks.