Abstract
In this study, hydrophilic chemical grout using silanol (HCGS) was adopted to overcome the performance limitations of epoxy materials used for strengthening existing buildings and civil engineering structures. The enhanced material performances of HCGS were introduced, and applied to the section enlargement method, which is one of the typical structural strengthening methods used in practice. To evaluate the excellent structural strengthening performance of the HCGS, structural tests were conducted on reinforced concrete beams, and analyses on the flexural behaviors of test specimens were performed by modified partial interaction theory (PIT). In particular, to improve the constructability of the section enlargement method, an advanced strengthening method was proposed, in which the precast panel was directly attached to the bottom of the damaged structural member by HCGS, and the degree of connection of the test specimens, strengthened by the section enlargement method, were quantitatively evaluated by PIT-based analysis.
Highlights
Suitable maintenance is typically required for reinforced concrete structures, when they lose their structural or durability performance during their intended service life due to unexpected excessive loading, durability damage of the concrete or corrosion of the steel reinforcement [1]
To quantitatively evaluate the flexural performances and the degree of connections of the specimens strengthened by the section enlargement method, in this study, flexural analyses were conducted based on partial interaction theory (PIT) [35,36,37]
According to the PIT presented by Newmark [38], the degree of connections of steel-concrete composite members can be determined by the horizontal shear capacities and shear stiffness of the interfacial shear connection [39,40]
Summary
Suitable maintenance is typically required for reinforced concrete structures, when they lose their structural or durability performance during their intended service life due to unexpected excessive loading, durability damage of the concrete or corrosion of the steel reinforcement [1]. Epoxy-based materials are widely used as the binding material for structural strengthening. The material properties of the epoxy resin, are degraded on contact with water and it even loses its original function. It has been consistently pointed out that water-soluble epoxy is not often suitable for structural strengthening because its binding capacity is insufficient even after hardening [18]. To overcome the limitations of the existing epoxy materials described above, an alternative material with improved bonding performance, as well as a method that is capable of improving the constructability, needs to be developed
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