Shear Capacity of RC Beams with Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Stirrups with Rectangular Section

Experimental observations were made for the shear capacity of reinforced concrete beams with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer rectangular stirrups (CFRPRS). In total, 12 concrete beams were tested under three-point loading. Each beam measured 1,400mm long, 150mm wide, and 250mm deep. For comparative studies, different parameters were considered: different sectional shapes (circular and rectangular CFRP stirrups), material types (steel and CFRP), and reinforcement ratios of stirrups (0.0038 and 0.0096). All beams were subjected to three-point loading. Test results indicated that concrete beams reinforced with CFRPRS stirrups could maintain shear behavior comparable to that of the concrete beam reinforced with steel stirrups. Compared with the beams with conventional CFRP stirrups with circular sections, superior shear behavior was observed for the beams reinforced with CFRPRS stirrups in terms of shear strength and crack width.