Torsional strengthening of rectangular and flanged beams using carbon fibre-reinforced-polymers – Experimental study

The present experimental investigation deals with the torsional strengthening of concrete beams without stirrups using epoxy-bonded carbon fibre-reinforced-polymer (FRP) sheets and strips as external transverse reinforcement. The experimental program comprises 14 rectangular and T-shaped beams tested under pure torsion. Based on the measured values of the torsional moment at cracking and at ultimate, the corresponding twists, the behavioural curves and the failure modes of the beams, useful concluding remarks are indicated. The strengthened rectangular beams using full wrapping with continuous FRP sheets performed enhanced torsional behaviour and higher capacity than the strengthened beams with FRP strips. U-jacketed flanged beams exhibited premature debonding failure and substantial reductions of the potential torsional capabilities are reported. In general, FRP fabrics could effectively be used as external torsional reinforcement in under-reinforced concrete elements without steel transverse reinforcement.