Shear strengthening of RC beams with textile reinforced concrete (TRC) plate

Abstract

Carbon–epoxy composite materials are of considerable interest for reinforcement, but they need to be improved and have constraints, particularly in terms of cost and criteria of sustainable development. Alternative materials like textile reinforced concrete (TRC) should be seriously considered as substitutes for traditional composite materials. This experimental study focuses on the mechanical feasibility of this type of solutions by comparing them with traditional solutions such as CFRP. The first comparative results are promising in terms of strength and stiffness. It can be established that, quantitatively, the materials have very similar behaviours, especially in the final stage. Finally, the Ritter–Mörsch truss model can be used with sufficient accuracy for the evaluation of the tensile strength, by considering a non-uniform stress distribution along the shear cracks that leads to failure.