Experimental and analytical study of reinforced concrete beams shear strengthened with different types of textile-reinforced mortar

Textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) is a composite material that overcomes some drawbacks of other RC (reinforced concrete) shear strengthening solutions. In this work, four different types of TRM are used as a shear strengthening system on RC beams tested until failure. A comparative study of their mechanical performance shows that the different TRM combinations used were able to increase the load bearing capacity and change their failure mode. Moreover, new methodologies that permit evaluating the bonding behaviour of TRM and the increment in flexural toughness are presented. The experimental results are compared with previous FRP and TRM analytical formulations. Finally, new formulae for calculating the shear contribution of TRM based on experimental results are proposed.