Role of Epoxy to Enhance Flexural

Capacity of RC Beam Strengthened By FRP

Material

SUPERVISOR:
Prof. Dr. ZAHID AHMAD SIDDIQI

Researcher:
Muhammad Shafeeq

2010-MS-CES-22

Introduction
Due to extreme loading conditions like earthquakes, tsunami and
others disasters strengthening and repairing of existing reinforced
concrete structures have become more communal issues in the field of
civil engineering during the last two decades.
Replacement of old structures will increase financial burden and is
certainly a waste of natural resources if upgrading is viable alternative.
For the repairing, retrofitting and rehabilitation of concrete structures
many conventional strengthening procedures has been used in the
past. For instance, section enlargement steel plate bonding, and
external post-tensioning are the most common strengthening
techniques. However, There are many drawbacks of such conventional
strengthening techniques which can be overcome by using the fiber
reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials .

Introduction

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) widely

use for retrofitting and strengthening purposes.
Advantages of FRP.
Role of epoxy in CFRP composites

Introduction

Problem Statement
Field Working Engineers Requirement.
After discussion with the people in the field of FRP retrofitting
work locally this point is raised by many well known engineers
that they have no information about the role of epoxy alone in
strength improvement. They want to know the percentage part
of epoxy alone in strength achievement without carbon
wrapping.
Why They want this info?????
Main Focus of Research
This research will focus on the structural behavior of epoxy only
in improvement of flexural capacity of RC cracked beams.

Objective
To investigate the role of epoxy adhesion in
enhancing the flexural capacity of RC beam.
To study the stress-strain behavior of epoxy
To study the mode of failures of CFRP
strengthened RC beam using epoxy of different
compositions
to study the ductility of RC beams strengthened
using only epoxy and using CFRP sheets

Epoxy use

Methodology
The beams of size 6 x 9 x 96 in will be cast. (With
minimum reinforcement as per code. Shear reinforcement
will be provided to avoid shear failure.
Above mentioned beams when get full strength will be
cracked in flexural by 4 point flexural test.

Methodology
Strengthening of cracked beams using CFRP
with different composition of epoxy
Preparation of epoxy strips to study the
Stress-strain behaviour of epoxy
Testing of all beams in flexure
Analysis of result.
Finally the conclusions will be carried out and
recommendations will be put forward based
on results.

References
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Engineering and Technology Lahore, 2013
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