International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering (IJIRAE) ISSN: 2349-2163

Issue 09, Volume 4 (September 2017) www.ijirae.com

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF RETROFITTED RC BEAMS

USING FRP
Saira P.N1, Adhabiya R1, Amina B1, Anas J.N1, Sambhu A1, Lekshmy D2
1Scholar (B. Tech), Department of Civil Engineering, MES, Kerala University, India
2Asst. Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, MES, Kerala University, India

Manuscript History
Number: IJIRAE/RS/Vol.04/Issue09/SPAE10087
DOI: 10.26562/IJIRAE.2017.SPAE10087
Received: 25, August 2017
Final Correction: 02, September 2017
Final Accepted: 15, September 2017
Published: September 2017
Citation:
Editor: Dr.A.Arul L.S, Chief Editor, IJIRAE, AM Publications, India
Copyright: 2017 This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
License, Which Permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author
and source are credited.

AbstractIn order to improve the performance of reinforced cement concrete structure (RCC) it is better to
repair or upgrade the structure by retrofitting. Retrofitting is one of the best options to make an existing
inadequate building safe against future probable earthquake or other environmental forces. Retrofitting is the
modification of existing structure to make them more resistance to seismic action, motion of ground and failure of
soil due to earthquake or other natural calamities such as tornadoes cyclones and winds with high velocity caused
by thunder storm, snow fall, hailstorms, etc. The study investigate the improvements in the structural behaviour
of the RC beams retrofitted with various types of FRP such as glass fibres, coir fibres, banana fibres, jute fibres and
cotton fibres. The experimental programme includes strengthening and flexural strength test of 18 simply
supported RC beams of 500x100x100 mm. The test results showed an increase in ultimate load for the retrofitted
beam when compared to normal control beam and corresponding increase in the value of modulus of rupture. The
retrofitted beams with glass fibre using epoxy as binder having 47.32% more strength than the control beams.
Area under load-deflection curve gives toughness. Toughness value is found to be more in RC beams retrofitted
with banana fibre.
Keywords Retrofitting, Flexural strength, FRP, RC Beam, Toughness
I. INTRODUCTION
The failure of civil engineering structures takes place either due to corrosion, impact due to natural forces,
corrosion etc. In such circumstances there are two possible solutions: replacement or retrofitting. Replacement
might have disadvantages such as high cost for material and labour, inconvenience due to interruption of the
function of structure. To overcome this retrofitting is adopted .Retrofitting means further modification of anything
after it has been manufactured. It can be achieved by using composite materials. Composite materials are
materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical and chemical
properties that when combined produce a material with characteristics different from the individual components.
Fibres or particles embedded in matrix of another material would be the best example of modern day composite
materials which are mostly structural. Fabrics have no matrix to fall back on, but in them fibres of different
composition combine to give them a specific character. Reinforcing materials generally with stand maximum load
and serve the desirable properties.
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IJIRAE: Impact Factor Value SJIF: Innospace, Morocco (2016): 3.916 | PIF: 2.469 | Jour Info: 4.085 |
ISRAJIF (2016): 3.715 | Indexcopernicus: (ICV 2015): 47.91
IJIRAE 2014- 17, All Rights Reserved Page -15
 International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering (IJIRAE) ISSN: 2349-2163
Issue 09, Volume 4 (September 2017) www.ijirae.com

Composite materials of fibres in a polymetric resin, also known as Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRP). There are
many advantages of using FRPs: lightweight, good mechanical properties, corrosion-resistant, etc. This work is a
comparative study of the behaviour of RC beams retrofitted with Banana, Coir, Cotton, Glass and Jute Fibre
Reinforced Polymers with U- wrapping technique. The polymer is most often Epoxy, but other polymers such as
polyester, vinyl ester or nylon are sometimes used. Experimental study involves the determination of flexural load
or ultimate load by subjecting the beams under central point loading in the universal testing machine. From the
ultimate load obtained, modulus of rupture, toughness is calculated.
II. METHODOLOGY FOR EXPERIMENTATION
A. Materials and its testing
The various materials used are cement, fine aggregates, coarse aggregates, steel bars and epoxy resin. The fibres
used are banana, coir, cotton, glass, jute. The various experimental results of the materials are shown in table
below.
TABLE 1 -TEST RESULTS OF MATERIALS
Sl.No Title of the Experiment Result
1 Specific gravity of cement 3.11
2 Fineness of cement 5.50%
3 Consistency of cement 32%
4 Initial setting time of cement 35 Min.
5 Fineness modulus of fine aggregate 4.65
6 Specific gravity of fine aggregate 2.69
7 Fineness modulus of coarse aggregate 5.52
8 Specific gravity of coarse aggregate 2.75
B. Casting of beams
18 RC beams were casted, 3 control specimens and 15 beams for retrofitting using wooden moulds of sizes
500mmx100mmx100mm. Standard mix design for M20 grade concrete obtained as 1:1.5:3 as per IS 10262:2009.
Mild steel bars of 8mm diameter were used for longitudinal reinforcement.
C. Retrofitting of beams by Banana, coir, Cotton, Jute, Glass FRP
Hand layup method was used for retrofitting of beams. The surface of the beam after curing was made rough and
then cleaned with water to remove all dirts for the proper bonding with the fibre. Then the beam was allowed to
dry for 24 hours. Then fibre sheets of various fibres (500mmx300mm) were cut from the fabric sheet to make a U
wrap around the lateral faces of RC beam. After, the epoxy resin was mixed with the hardener in a plastic
container to produce a uniform mix. Then it was coated on the surface of beam and for effective bonding of fibre
sheets with concrete surface. Then the fibre sheets were placed on the top of epoxy resin and another coating of
resin was applied on the top of fibre sheets. This operation carried out at room temperature and is allowed to set
under sunlight for 6 hours.

Fig.1 Test on RC beam Fig. 2 Test on RC beam retrofitted with jute fibre
D. Experimental study
The specimens are tested in the universal testing machine for finding ultimate load. The test procedures of all the
specimens are same. After the curing period of 28 days is over control beams are washed and is cleaned for clear
visibility of cracks were other sets of beam are strengthened by banana, coir, cotton, jute, glass fibres. The
modulus of rupture is calculated using the equation, = 3PL/2bt2
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
IJIRAE: Impact Factor Value SJIF: Innospace, Morocco (2016): 3.916 | PIF: 2.469 | Jour Info: 4.085 |
ISRAJIF (2016): 3.715 | Indexcopernicus: (ICV 2015): 47.91
IJIRAE 2014- 17, All Rights Reserved Page -16
 International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering (IJIRAE) ISSN: 2349-2163
Issue 09, Volume 4 (September 2017) www.ijirae.com

The area under load-deflection gives toughness. The load arrangements for testing of all set of beams is consist of
central loading as shown in figure,

Fig. 3 Test on RC beam retrofitted with glass fibre Fig. 4 Test on RC beam retrofitted with cotton fibre

Fig. 5 Test on RC beam retrofitted with coir fibre Fig. 6 Test on RC beam retrofitted with banana fibre
III.RESULT
TABLE 2 - FLEXURAL STRENGTH TEST RESULTS

Ultimate Modulus of Modulus of

Specimen Ultimate Load
Specimen Load, Avg. Rupture Rupture, Avg. Toughness
No. (KN)
(KN) (MPa) (MPa)
SC 1 28.5 17.1
Control
SC 2 28 28.17 16.8 16.9 25.27
beam
SC 3 28 16.8
RC beam SB 1 34 20.4
with SB 2 35 21
34.83 20.9 168.07
banana
fibre SB 3 35.5 21.3
RC beam SCR 1 30 18
with coir SCR 2 29 29.83 17.4 17.9 58.64
fibre SCR 3 30.5 18.3
RC beam SCN 1 31.5 18.9
with SCN 2 32 19.2
32.50 19.5 60.18
cotton
fibre SCN 3 34 20.4
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
IJIRAE: Impact Factor Value SJIF: Innospace, Morocco (2016): 3.916 | PIF: 2.469 | Jour Info: 4.085 |
ISRAJIF (2016): 3.715 | Indexcopernicus: (ICV 2015): 47.91
IJIRAE 2014- 17, All Rights Reserved Page -17
 International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering (IJIRAE) ISSN: 2349-2163
Issue 09, Volume 4 (September 2017) www.ijirae.com

RC beam SG 1 42 25.2
with glass SG2 41 41.50 24.6 24.9 111.41
fibre SG 3 41.5 24.9
RC beam SJ 1 32.5 19.5
with jute SJ 2 34 33.50 20.4 20.1 115.04
fibre SJ 3 34 20.4

Fig. 7 Graphical representation of ultimate loads for all beams

TABLE 3 - % INCREASE IN THE ULTIMATE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY
Specimen Ultimate Load, Avg. (KN) % Increase in the Ultimate Load
carrying capacity
Control beam (SC) 28.17
RC beam with coir fibre (SCR) 29.83 5.89
RC beam with cotton fibre (SCN) 32.50 15.37
RC beam with jute fibre (SJ) 33.50 18.92
RC beam with banana fibre (SB) 33.50 23.64
RC beam with glass fibre (SG) 41.50 47.32

LOAD Vs DEFLECTION
46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32 CONTROL BEAM
30
LOAD(KN)

28
26
24 JUTE FIBER
22
20
18
16 BANANA FIBER
14
12
10 COIR FIBER
8
6
4
2 COTTON FIBER
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.510 GLASS FIBER

DEFLECTION(mm)

Fig. 8 Load Vs Deflection curve of all materials

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
IJIRAE: Impact Factor Value SJIF: Innospace, Morocco (2016): 3.916 | PIF: 2.469 | Jour Info: 4.085 |
ISRAJIF (2016): 3.715 | Indexcopernicus: (ICV 2015): 47.91
IJIRAE 2014- 17, All Rights Reserved Page -18
 International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering (IJIRAE) ISSN: 2349-2163
Issue 09, Volume 4 (September 2017) www.ijirae.com

IV. CONCLUSIONS
1. The ultimate load was found to be high for beams retrofitted with FRP composite than control beam.
2. Modulus of rupture also be found high for RC beams retrofitted with fibres such as glass, banana,
jute,cotton,coir corresponding to ultimate load
3. This showed that the use of both natural and artificial FRP was very effective in case of flexural strengthening
of structures.
4. The load-deflection behavior was better for beams strengthened with FRP compared to the control beams.
5. The retrofitted beams with glass fibre having 47.32% more strength than control beams.
6. It shows that glass FRP has great potential in increasing the ultimate load of RC beams and also enhances the
material efficiency.
7. Among natural fibres, banana fibres having high load carrying capacity (toughness).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all, I would like to thank The Almighty for all the blessings and guidance in making me to take this project.
I wish to place on records my ardent an earnest gratitude to my project guide Prof. Lekshmy.D, Dept. of Civil
Engineering, MES Institute of Technology and Management. Her tutelage and guidance was the leading factor in
translating my efforts to fruition. I would like to thank our Principal Dr. M. Jayaraju for providing all facilities in
campus for my project. I am extremely happy to mention a great word of gratitude to Prof. Abi Basheer, Head of
the Dept. of Civil Engineering for providing me with all facilities for the completion of the project. I also extend my
gratefulness to all my staff members in the department. I also thank all my friends and well-wishers who greatly
helped me in my Endeavour.

REFERENCES
1. T. Sen, and A. Paul, Confining concrete with sisal and jute FRP as alternatives for CFRP and GFRP,
International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment, Volume 4 Issue 2, April 2015.
2. Anumol Raju, Liji Anna Mathew, Retrofitting of RC beams using FRP, International Journal of Engineering
Research and Technology, Vol. 2, (2013).
3. Kaushal Parikh, C. D. Modhera, Application of GFRP on preloaded retrofitted beam for enhancement in flexural
strength, International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering, Vol. 2 (2012)
4. Grace, N.F., Sayed, G.A., Soliman, A.K., Saleh, K.R. (1999) , Strengthening Reinforced Concrete Beams Using
Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Laminates
5. Daniel Baggio,KhaledSoudki,MartinNoel, Strengthening of shear critical RC beams with various FRP systems.
6. Tedesco, J.W., Stallings J.M., and El-Mihilmy M., Finite Element Method Analysis of a Concrete Bridge Repaired
with FiberReinforced Plastic Laminates. Vol. 72, (1999).
7. Ross, C.A., D.M. Jerome, J.W. Tedesco and M.L. Hughes,Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Beams with
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8. Saadatmanesh, H., Mohammad, R.E. (1991), RC Beams Strengthened with GFRP Plates.

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IJIRAE: Impact Factor Value SJIF: Innospace, Morocco (2016): 3.916 | PIF: 2.469 | Jour Info: 4.085 |
ISRAJIF (2016): 3.715 | Indexcopernicus: (ICV 2015): 47.91
IJIRAE 2014- 17, All Rights Reserved Page -19