Flexural behavior of RC beams strengthened with steel wire mesh and self-compacting concrete jacketing — experimental investigation and test results

Abstract

Strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with Self-compacting concrete (SCC) jacketing reinforced with galvanized welded steel wire mesh (SWM) is one of the latest retrofitting applied techniques. Eighteen small-scale RC beam specimens with all over a length of 1200 mm for each specimen are experimentally assessed to study flexural strength under static loading conditions. Experimental tests have been performed until failure mode on, eleven strengthened samples, four control beams poured monolithically, and three original control beam. The eleven specimens are strengthened using the U-jacketing technique in which a relatively thin reinforced SCC layer is applied for the bottom width and both vertical sides of the original beams. The strengthened beams are categorized into two groups A and B based on test variables, namely, the SWM properties and the bonding mechanism. In this study, the flexural capacity, ductility, stiffness, crack width and deflection are also clarified. Based on achieved test results, all strengthened beams are designed to fail in a ductile manner. The first group of strengthened beams restored on average 110% of the original control beams load capacity, whereas the second strengthened group resorted to 163% on average. Moreover, it is found that the strengthened beams acted in the same manner of the monolithic control beams and acted as a single unit. Accordingly, it is concluded that this strengthening technique can be used confidently in real-life applications, especially for low-priced constructions.