Identifying the Most Effective Orientation of the CFRP Laminate for Strengthening the Tension Face of the RC T- Beams

Most of the researches on strengthening so far had been focused on rectangular reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Researches on strengthening of RC T-beams are rather limited. This study focuses on the application of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate for strengthening the tension zone of RC T-beam constrained by the presence of a stump (representative of a column) and the effect of varying the length of the strengthening laminates. Three different orientations of the CFRP laminates were tested to evaluate the best orientation. The following orientations were chosen. Orientation 1 was the full application of CFRP laminate along the centre of beam length assuming no stump was present. Orientation 2 was the full application of CFRP laminate alongside the stump parallel to beam length and Orientation 3 was the application of CFRP laminate around the stump and a continuous strip from the side of the stump to the ends of the beam. The beams were tested using the three point bending test set-up. The most suitable orientation of CFRP laminate determined was Orientation 2. The load carrying capacity had increased by about 70% compared to un-strengthened beam by strengthening both the tension and compression zone.