Assessment of CFRP strengthened RC beams through dynamic tests

The use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) for strengthening damaged RC beams has become common practice over recent years. Two methods adopted for repairing or strengthening such beams are FRP plates/sheets glued onto their concrete surface and FRP rods or strips inserted into grooves. This paper investigates experimental vibration monitoring of strengthening according to the two aforementioned methods through dynamic tests on six RC beam models strengthened using carbon FRP. Three beams were strengthened applying CFRP sheets on the tensile cracked surface after loading and three beams were strengthened by near surface mounted (NSM) CFRP rods. The experimental results include both the static tests to create damage and the dynamic tests of strengthened, measuring natural vibration modes and frequency values for free end beams. Comparison between experimental dynamic response and static behavior established that vibration monitoring is a convenient, non-destructive method for assessing strengthened beams under service loads. Further studies and tests must be developed in order to solve the issues that emerged following the analysis of the experimental data obtained. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.