Concrete Beams Reinforced with GFRP Plates

Abstract

This is the presentation of the research carried out by the Faculty of Engineering at Universidad Nacional de Rosario on the use of pultruded Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) plates to increase the flexural strength of reinforced concrete beams.Pultruded plates are the type of elements made of composite materials which are most widely used for this kind of strengthening. Although around the world the material used for these plates is carbon fibers, its high cost prevents its widespread use in our country.One of the aims of our research program is, precisely, to verify whether it is possible to substitute such plates for significantly cheaper glass fiber elements manufactured in Argentina. The test results have proved that this alternative is feasible.What's more, the greater thickness of the glass fiber plates allows the use of additional anchor bolts. These bolts provide the system with post-critical resistance and ductility-characteristics which are absolutely necessary, for example, in structures in seismic areas.