Effect of Modified Carbon Nanotubes Epoxy on the Mechanical Properties of Concrete Reinforced with FRP Sheets

Abstract

Abstract Today, using Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) sheets is one of the conventional methods in retrofitting concrete structures. Some factors affecting FRP sheets proper performance include mechanical properties, surface specifications, connector’s material and connecting approach in concrete elements. Previous studies showed that FRP epoxy resin and its basic surface have a significant impact on the ultimate bearing capacity. In line with the development of nanotechnology in recent years, this paper presents an experimental study to show the effects of adding the best percentage of nano-carbons to adhesive resin and evaluate the ultimate axial, shear and bending strengths in concrete samples. The results show that using FRP with carbon nanotube reinforced resins will significantly increase stiffness and ductility by 100%; moreover, it shows an effective increase of almost 13% in axial and flexural strengths of specimens.