Behavior of RC Beams Strengthened by CFRP and Steel Rope under Frequent Impact Load

Abstract

The current research aims to study the effect of impact loads on reinforced concrete beams strengthened by carbon fibers and/or steel wire rope. The use of steel wire rope is suggested as a new economic technique to strengthen and rehabilitate reinforced concrete beams, as well as to fix the fibers that are being used in strengthening. Reinforced concrete beams subjected to impact load using both carbon fibers and steel wire rope were tested, and the results were compared with the results obtained from reference beams, from beams strengthened with steel wire rope only, and from beams strengthened with carbon fibers only. The results of concrete beams strengthened using any of the three methods and subjected to impact loading showed a decrease in maximum deflection, residual deflection, damping time, and in the number of strikes to reach each phase of failure. The best results, however, were attained when strengthening using steel rope with and without the addition of carbon fibers, which improved the values of dynamic deflection, residual deflection, damping time, and the number of strikes to reach each phase of failure, when compared to beams strengthened by CFRP strips only.