Retrofitting of RC Distressed Beams Adopting Low Carbon Emission Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete Jacket

Abstract

Geopolymer concrete is a low carbon emission and is a sustainable material that does not make use of cement that is used to cast sustainable reinforced concrete jackets around distressed RC beams as a retrofit measure, to enhance the load carrying capacity. Since geopolymer concrete does not make use of cement, this study is carried out to substantially bring in its application in retrofitting-based construction. In this work, experiments were carried out to evaluate the mechanical properties of geopolymer concerte having a compressive strength of 33 N/mm2 cured at ambient temperature. A finite element analysis was priorly carried out to initially validate the FE model towards the experiment al results of RC jacketed retrofitted beams performed by Constantine and his group. The finite element study was extended by considering the material properties of M33 grade geopolymer concrete into the reinforced jacket, to understand the behaviour of retrofitted beams adopting geopolymer concrete. The results of the geopolymer reinforced concrete jacket in the finite element model were compared with the results of the Sika-grout 212 reinforced jacket that was applied around distressed RC beams having shear deficiencies in the experimental program. It is learnt from the analysis results, the mid-span deflect ion of RC beams adopt ing geopolymer concrete in the reinforced jacket had a larger value of deflect ion when compared to the experimental results of RC beams that were retrofitted using Sika-grout 212. The analysis results indicated that, the use of geopolymer concrete in reinforced jackets not only helped to rest ore the distressed RC beams, but also transformed the behaviour of retrofitted beams to deflect in a ductile manner, having larger deflect ions which is a desirable mode of failure.