FRPRCS11

Joaquim Barros & José Sena-Cruz (Eds)

 UM, Guimarães, 2013

Structural Behavior of Concrete Notched Beams

Strengthened with CFRP Sheets

L. A. V. Carneiro1, L. A. C. M. Aragão Filho2, A. A. Moura 3, P. F. Gonzalez4

1
Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil, carneiro@ime.eb.br
2
Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil, moniz@ime.eb.br
3
Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil, am.alysson@gmail.com
4
Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil, pablo_fadul@hotmail.com

Keywords: Sheet; CFRP; Flexural strengthening; Beam; Monitoring.

SUMMARY
An experimental program was carried out to investigate the structural behavior and determinate the
fracture properties of concrete notched beams strengthened in bending with carbon fiber reinforced
polymer (CFRP) sheets. In these concrete notched beams, the compressive strength of concrete
(20 MPa and 60 MPa) and the number of CFRP layers (0, 1 or 2) were varied. The values of
deflection at middle of span, CFRP and concrete strains and crack mouth opening displacement
(CMOD) were measured on 12 notched beams tested by three-point bending. The a0/h (notch
height/beam height) ratio was established as 0.2 and the L0/h (distance between the supports/beam
height) ratio adopted as 3. According to the experimental results, concrete notched beams
strengthened with CFRP sheets have better fracture properties and mechanical properties than those
without CFRP sheets.

1. INTRODUCTION

Concrete is a quasi-brittle material, characterized by a gradually decreasing stress after the peak stress.
The failure of concrete structure greatly depends on the properties of your materials and is
characterized by developing a fracture process zone at a critical section, for instance, a cracked
section.

Fracture mechanics studies the failure of concrete structure initiated by cracks. The cracking process
can be controlled and monitored using the crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) from a certain
testing. The crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) is another fracture parameter defined as the
displacement at tip of the notch. Other fracture parameter used to describe fracture concrete response
at some load is the stress intensity factor for mode I cracking or fracture toughness (KI ).

Innovative composite materials, called as fiber reinforced polymers, have been used to strengthen
deficient, damaged, or deteriorated reinforced concrete structures because of their high tensile
strength, light weight, resistance to corrosion, high durability, and ease of installation. Externally
bonded FRP reinforcement has been shown to be applicable for the strengthening of reinforced
concrete beams and can be used to improve flexural and shear capacities of them.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the structural behavior and determinate the fracture
properties (CMOD, CTOD, and KI) of concrete notched beams strengthened in bending with carbon

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 Structural Behavior of Concrete Notched Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets
L. A. V. Carneiro, L. A. C. M. Aragão Filho, A. A. Moura, P. F. Gonzalez

fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets. All the results were compared to those from concrete notched
beams without CFRP sheets.

2. GENERAL FORMULATIONS
For the evaluation of critical stress intensity factor or fracture toughness, three-point bending single
edge notched beam (see Figure 1), with a fixed span-to-depth ratio equal to 4 and a limited range of
crack-to-depth ratios from 0.4 to 0.7, is a current standard configuration test in international norms [1,
2, 3, 4]. However, achieving stable tests may be easier with larger span-to-depth ratios (larger than
2.5) and deeper cracks, while tests in difficult environmental conditions (low or high temperatures)
can be simpler if shorter beams are used [5].

Figure 1: Three-point bending single edge notched beam.

2.1 Critical Crack Mouth Opening Displacement (CMODc)

The critical crack mouth opening displacement (CMODc) for a general three point bending specimen,
with 0 ≤ α ≤ 1 and β ≥ 2.5, can be calculated using the general expression [5]:

4σ max ac
CMODc = η (1)
E

with

6M max
σ max = (2)
bh 2

where Mmax is the maximum bending moment, b is the beam width, h is the beam height, E is the
modulus of elasticity, ac is the critical effective crack length to be determined from the equation:

 (C c Eb )1/2 
a c = h 1/2 
(3)
[ ]
 C c Eb + δ (C c Eb )1/2 + λ(Cc Eb )1/3 + ϑ 

where Cc is the compliance at the maximum load (Pmax) in the load-CMOD curve.

The expressions to determine δ , λ and ϑ are:

δ = 0.98 + 3.77β (4)

2
9.1 + 2.9β
λ=- (5)
1 + 0.168β
ϑ = -3.2β + 8.9β 2 (6)

where β = L0 /h and L0 is the distance between the supports.

The dimensionless shape function η is given by:

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 Structural Behavior of Concrete Notched Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets
L. A. V. Carneiro, L. A. C. M. Aragão Filho, A. A. Moura, P. F. Gonzalez

η = 0.8 − 1.7α c + 2.4α c2 +

0.66
+
4
(
− 0.04 − 0.58α c + 1.47α c2 − 2.04αc3 ) (7)
(1 − αc )2
β

with α0 = (a0/h), where a0 is the initial crack length (notch height).

Finally, the modulus of elasticity E may be computed from the following equation [4]:
6L a ψ
E = 0 20 (8)
Ci h b

where Ci is the initial compliance calculated from the load-CMOD curve, and the geometric function
ψ is calculated as

0.66
ψ = 0.76 − 2.28α0 + 3.87α02 − 2.04α03 + (9)
(1 − α0 )2

with α0 = (a0/h).

2.2 Critical Stress Intensity Factor for Mode I Cracking (KIc)

According to reference [5], the values of critical stress intensity factor for mode I cracking (KIc) can be
obtained from:

K Ic = ξ σ max h (10)

where ξ is a shape function valid for any α = (a/h) and any β = (L0/h) ≥ 2.5. The expression for the
general shape factor ξ is:

αc  4 
ξ=  p + β (q − p ) (11)
(1 − α c )
3/2
(1 + 3αc )  

where

p = 1.99 + 0.83α c − 0.31α c2 + 0.14α c3 (12)

2 3
q = 1.90 + 0.41αc + 0.51α − 0.17α c c (13)

2.3 Critical Tip Opening Displacement (CTODc)

The critical tip opening displacement can be obtained from the following equation [6]:

K Ic 32(a c − a o )
CTOD c = (14)
E π

3. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM

3.1 Materials
Two concrete mixes were performed to achieve compressive strength of 20 MPa and 60 MPa. The
concrete mix fc = 20 MPa was a proper mixture of Portland cement, fine aggregate (sand), coarse
aggregate (gneiss with maximum size 25 mm) and water in the relative weight ratios to cement
1:3.53:4.22:0.83 (cement content 230 kg/m3), whereas the concrete mix fc = 60 MPa was prepared with
Portland cement, silica fume, fine aggregate (sand), course aggregate (gneiss with maximum size 9.5

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 Structural Behavior of Concrete Notched Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets
L. A. V. Carneiro, L. A. C. M. Aragão Filho, A. A. Moura, P. F. Gonzalez

mm), water and superplasticizer in the relative weight ratios to cement 1:0,10:1.78:2.51:0.42:0.02
(cement content 412 kg/m3 ).

The measured averages 150 mm x 300 mm cylinder compressive strength of the concrete mixes were
21,5 MPa and 62,3 MPa at the time of testing.

The FRP system consisted of monofilament CFRP flexible sheets with impregnating epoxy resin. The
design properties of the CFRP sheets as provided by the manufacturer (Tec-fiber Rheoset) and the
results of testing for the cured CFRP sheets conducted at Laboratory of Construction Materials and
Concrete of Military Institute of Engineering are given in Table 1.

3.2 Test Specimens

In order to investigate the structural behavior and determinate the fracture properties of concrete
notched beams strengthened in bending with CFRP sheets, 12 notched beams were tested in three-
point loading. All the specimens had 150 mm x 150 mm x 500 mm (width x height x length) in
dimensions, which followed the recommendations in reference [7], with a notch height-to-beam height
(a0/h) ratio equal to 0.2 and the distance between the supports-to-beam height (L0/h) ratio equal to 3.

Table 1: CFRP sheet properties.

Tensile strength Modulus of Thickness Strain at failure
ffu (MPa) elasticity Ef (GPa) tf (mm) εfu (o /oo)
Manufacturer (Tex-fiber Rheoset)
3550 235 0.165 15.5
Results of testing for a single layer of cured CFRP sheet
980 71.6 0.5 13.7
Results of testing for a double layer of cured CFRP sheet
952 78.6 0.9 12.1

The testing program is summarized in Table 2. For each concrete mixture, two test specimens. The
specimens were cut with a notch at mid-length using a diamond cutter prior to the execution of the test
and the FRP gluing, and after completion of concrete curing. The notch was set with a constant
thickness of 3 mm.

Table 2: Details and data of tested beams.

Specimen Number of specimens fcm (MPa) Number of CFRP layer
V20-FC0 2 21.5 0
V20-FC1 2 21.5 1
V20-FC2 2 21.5 2
V60-FC0 2 62.3 0
V60-FC1 2 62.3 1
V60-FC2 2 62.3 2

The nomenclature of test specimens is as follows: the first character, ‘‘V’’ represents the type of the
plain concrete specimen (initial word of beam in portuguese - viga); the second character, ‘‘20’’ or
‘‘60’’, is the compressive strength of concrete in MPa; the third character, ‘‘FC0’’ or ‘‘FC1’’ or
“FC2”, represents the number of CFRP layers. The details of the specimens are shown in Figure 2.

3.3 Test Setup and Procedures

The beams were subjected to a three-point bending test, as shown in Figure 2. The beams were
instrumented with one linear variable displacement transducers (LVDTs) at both lateral sides to
monitor the mid-span deflection. One strain gage was glued on the lateral surface of the beam, 10 mm
measured below the top, in order to record the compressive strain of concrete. The FRP sheet was
instrumented with three strain gages to measure deformations: one those at mid-span and others at

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 Structural Behavior of Concrete Notched Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets
L. A. V. Carneiro, L. A. C. M. Aragão Filho, A. A. Moura, P. F. Gonzalez

each mid-shear span. Two clip type displacement transducers (clip gage) were attached at the beam
notch to measure the crack widths (CMOD).

The beams were placed in a 1,000-kN universal testing machine, one at a time, and subjected to
increasingly compressive load (perpendicular plane to the vibration direction of concrete), under a
constant rate of 500 N/s, until their failure. At time intervals of 1 s, the LVDTs, strains gages and clip
gages measurements were taken by means of a data-logger, and the load was measured with a load cell
of test machine.

The mechanical properties of the cylindrical concrete specimens were determined according to
references [8] and [9] using a 5,000 kN testing machine.

Figure 3 illustrates the characteristics of the bending test specimens and equipment.

(a) Plain concrete

(b) FRP concrete

Figure 2: Concrete beam specimens.

Figure 3: Specimen configuration and experimental setup.

4. TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Figure 4 shows the failure patterns observed on beams. The failure mode was sudden, almost without
warning, and flexural for all beams without CFRP sheet. For beams with CFRP sheet, the failure
appeared by debonding at the CFRP sheet ends along with inclined crack (45-degree) occurred from

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 Structural Behavior of Concrete Notched Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets
L. A. V. Carneiro, L. A. C. M. Aragão Filho, A. A. Moura, P. F. Gonzalez

the tensile zone to the notch tip, but more ductile than that for beams without CFRP sheet. The
debonding of CFRP sheet was due to stress concentration in this region.

V20-FC0 (Pmax = 18.1 kN) V60-FC0 (Pmax = 32.1 kN)

V20-FC1 (Pmax = 43.8 kN) V60-FC1 (Pmax = 65.0 kN)

V20-FC2 (Pmax = 60.4 kN) V60-FC2 (Pmax = 72.0 kN)

Figure 4: Failure patterns of tested beams.

As can be seen in Figure 5, the fracture progresses for strengthened beams occurred in three stages:
cracks were generated in a small region at the crack tip (1) then along with main crack extension,
initiation and extension of an inclined crack (45-degree) occurred from the tensile zone to the notch tip
(2) and finally cracks were generated near the interface between the CFRP sheet and concrete (3).

Figure 5: Failure progress of beams with CFRP sheet.

The ultimate average values of load, deflection at mid-span, and CFRP and concrete strains at mid-
span of tested beams are reported in Table 3.

It was verified that all beams strengthened with CFRP sheet exhibited higher ultimate load than those
without CFRP sheet. For the 20 MPa concrete beams, the average maximum increases in ultimate load
were in the order of 142% and 234% for specimens with 1 CFRP sheet layer and 2 CFRP sheet layers,
respectively, while the respective values for the 60 MPa concrete beams were 102% and 124%.

Table 3: Beam test results at rupture step.

Specimen Load Deflection at CFRP strain at Concrete strain at
(kN) mid-span (mm) mid-span (o/oo) mid-span (o/oo)
V20-FC0 18.1 0.61 0.1 0.2
V20-FC1 43.8 1.64 4.3 0.4
V20-FC2 60.4 1.78 2.5 0.3
V60-FC0 32.1 1.90 0.2 0.1
V60-FC1 65.0 5.10 2.2 0.3
V60-FC2 72.0 6.10 8.9 0.4

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 Structural Behavior of Concrete Notched Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets
L. A. V. Carneiro, L. A. C. M. Aragão Filho, A. A. Moura, P. F. Gonzalez

The obtained typical deflection at mid-span – load curves for concrete beams with or without CFRP
sheet are shown in Figure 6. After a first linear and elastic path, common for all specimens, cracking
of concrete took place so that the slope in the deflection at mid-span – load curve changed. Increases
in stiffness and ductility can be clearly noticed after concrete cracking of beams with CFRP sheet in
relationship to those without CFRP sheet.

V20 (fcm = 21.5 MPa) V60 (fcm = 62.3 MPa)

Figure 6: Load - deflection at mid-span curves for beam specimens.

Figure 7 illustrates the strain values measured at different positions from left support of the tested
beams. These plotted values were logged for three different load steps so that the last ones correspond
with the failure load. It was observed that the strain values measured at middle of span were higher
than those measured at middle of shear span.

For the 20 MPa concrete beams, the ultimate average strain values at mid-span were 0.1o/oo, 4.3o/oo and
2.5o/oo for beams without CFRP sheet, with 1 CFRP sheet layer, and 2 CFRP sheet layers, respectively,
while the respective values for the 60 MPa concrete beams were 0.2o/oo, 2.2o/oo and 8.9o/oo.

The ratio between the difference of FRP sheet tensile forces in two adjacent positions of strain gages
and the respective concrete area where CFRP was glued gives the average shear stress value in CFRP
– concrete interface. Between the mid-shear span and the end CFRP sheet, the highest average shear
stress value was 1,80 MPa for the 20 MPa concrete beams with 2 CFRP sheet layers, and the lowest
one was 0,33 MPa for the 60 MPa concrete beams with 1 CFRP sheet layer. These shear stress values
were calculated for the respective load failures of concrete beams with CFRP.

The Figure 8 shows the CMOD – load curves used to calculate the initial and the critical compliances
(Ci and Cc) to determine CMODc (Equation 1).

The CMODc, KIc, and CTODc values, calculated with using Equations 1 to 14, are presented in the
Table 4. These values indicate a limit to stable crack growth (up to CMODc value) and unstable crack
growth (above CMODc value). Here the term stable crack growth means that the major crack
propagates only when the load increases. Thus, for CMOD values above CMODc, the major crack
continues to propagate even though the load is decreasing. Contrary to V20-FC2 (specimen of 20 MPa
concrete with 2 CFRP sheet layers), all the 20 MPa concrete beams exhibited larger CMODc values
than those for the 60 MPa concrete beams. Consequently these specimens were less sensitive to the
presence of cracks.

The KIc values of the 20 MPa concrete beams were lower than those for the 60 MPa concrete beams. It
reveals that the 60 MPa concrete beams have higher fracture toughness and resistance to avoid cracks
when compared with those for the 20 MPa concrete beams.

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 Structural Behavior of Concrete Notched Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets
L. A. V. Carneiro, L. A. C. M. Aragão Filho, A. A. Moura, P. F. Gonzalez

V20-FC0 (fcm = 21.5 MPa) V60-FC0 (fcm = 62.3 MPa)

V20-FC1 (fcm = 21.5 MPa) V60-FC1 (fcm = 62.3 MPa)

V20-FC2 (fcm = 21.5 MPa) V60-FC2 (fcm = 62.3 MPa)

Figure 7: Strain – distance from strain gage to left support curves for beams specimens.

V20 (fcm = 21.5 MPa) V60 (fcm = 62.3 MPa)

Figure 8: Load – CMOD curves for beams specimens.

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 Structural Behavior of Concrete Notched Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets
L. A. V. Carneiro, L. A. C. M. Aragão Filho, A. A. Moura, P. F. Gonzalez

Table 4: Test fracture parameters results.

Specimen Load CMODc KIc ac CTODc
(kN) (mm) (MPa√m) (mm) (mm)
V20-FC0 18.1 0.067 29.4 61.0 0.018
V20-FC1 43.8 0.316 75.7 79.2 0.060
V20-FC2 60.4 0.272 100.4 66.5 0.068
V60-FC0 32.1 0.046 47.5 34.2 0.011
V60-FC1 65.0 0.292 106.5 66.8 0.073
V60-FC2 72.0 0.482 123.6 77.3 0.096

5. CONCLUSIONS
The structural behavior of concrete notched beams strengthened in bending with carbon fiber
reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets was investigated, besides the fracture properties (CMOD, CTOD,
and KI). On the basis of all data and interpretations presented in this study, the following results were
obtained:

- For beams without CFRP sheet, the failure was flexural and occurred suddenly without warning,
while for beams with CFRP sheet, the failure was ductile and occurred after a decrease of the overall
stiffness of the beam. Due to stress concentration in the CFRP sheet ends, the CFRP sheet debonded.
- Strengthening in bending plain concrete notched beams using CFRP sheet enhanced significantly its
flexural resistance capacity. Comparing with specimens without CFRP sheet, the gains for the 20 MPa
concrete beams were in order of 142% and 234% for specimens with 1 CFRP sheet layer and 2 CFRP
sheet layers, respectively, while for the 60 MPa concrete beams the respective gains were 102% and
124%.
- The flexural tensile strength of the beams with CFRP sheet increases not linearly as the number of
CFRP sheet increases from 1 to 2.
- Increases in stiffness and ductility can be clearly noticed after concrete cracking of beams with CFRP
sheet in relationship to those without CFRP sheet.
- It was observed that the highest strain value measured at middle bottom of span for beam with 2
CFRP sheet layers (V60-FC2) reached around 60% of the ultimate nominal CFRP strain value as
provided by the manufacturer.
- Almost of all the 20 MPa concrete beams exhibited larger CMODc values than those for the 60 MPa
concrete beams; consequently these specimens were less sensitive to the presence of cracks.
- It was verified that the 60 MPa concrete beams have higher fracture toughness (KIc) and resistance to
avoid cracks when compared with those for the 20 MPa concrete beams.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Portland cement used in experimental program of this study were gently provided by Holcim
Brasil S/A.
The work described in this paper is part of discipline of Initiation to Research from Undergraduation
Course in Fortification and Construction Engineering of Military Institute of Engineering, for which
financial support was provided by the Rio de Janeiro Government Research Agency FAPERJ.

REFERENCES
[1] ASTM. Standard Test Method for Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness of Metallic Materials. ASTM
Standards, Philadelphia-USA, p. 509-539 (1993a).
[2] ASTM. Standard Test Method for JIC, a Measure of Fracture Toughness. ASTM Standards,
Philadelphia-USA, p. 738-752 (1993b).
[3] ESIS. Procedure for Determining the Fracture Behavior of Materials. European Structural Integrity
Society, Delft-The Netherlands (1992).

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 Structural Behavior of Concrete Notched Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets
L. A. V. Carneiro, L. A. C. M. Aragão Filho, A. A. Moura, P. F. Gonzalez

[4] RILEM DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS. Determination of Fracture Parameters (KsIc and

CTODc) of Plain Concrete Using Three-Point Bend Tests. Materials and Structures, p. 457-460
(1989).
[5] G.V. Guinea, J.P. Pastor, M. Elices. “Stress Intensity Factor, Compliance and CMOD for a General
Three-Point-Bend Beam”. International Journal of Fracture, p. 103-116 (1998).
[6] Z.P. Bazant, M. T. Kazemi. “Determination of Fracture Energy, Process Zone Length and
Brittleness Number from Size Effect, with Application to Rock and Concrete”. International Journal of
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[7] NBR-5738/93. Moldagem e Cura de Corpos-de-Prova de Concreto Cilíndricos ou Prismáticos -
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