Behaviour of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with carbon fibre reinforced polymer laminates subjected to corrosion damage

The viability of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates for the strengthening of corrosion damaged reinforced concrete bridge girders is addressed in this paper. Ten reinforced concrete beams (100 x 150 x 1200 mm) with variable chloride levels (0-3%) were constructed. Six beams were strengthened by externally epoxy bonding CFRP laminates to the concrete surface. The tensile reinforcements of three unstrengthened and four strengthened specimens were subjected to accelerated corrosion by means of impressed current to 5, 10, and 15% mass loss. Strain gauges were placed on the CFRP laminates to monitor and quantify tensile strains induced by the corrosion process. Following the corrosion phase, the specimens were tested in flexure in a four-point bending regime. Test results revealed that CFRP laminates successfully confined the corrosion cracking, and the total expansion of the laminate exhibited an exponential increase throughout the corrosion process. All the strengthened beams exhibited increased stiffness over the unstrengthened specimens and marked increases in the yield and ultimate strength. The CFRP strengthening scheme was able to restore the capacity of corrosion damaged concrete beams up to 15% mass loss.