RETROFITTING OF SEVERELY CORRODED CONTINUOUS RC BEAMS WITH C-FRCM COMPOSITES

Numerical simulation models were developed to explore the nonlinear structural behavior of corroded continuous reinforced concrete (RC) beams repaired with carbon fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (C-FRCM) composites. To validate the numerical predictions, laboratory tests were conducted on five large-scale continuous RC beams. Numerical and experimental results were represented in terms of the load capacity and deflection response. Numerical results closely matched those obtained from the experiments, with a discrepancy in the load capacity ≤ 13%. The numerical analysis revealed that a 40% cross-sectional loss in the sagging zones due to corrosion caused a 22% reduction in the load capacity, while the beam model with the corrosion in the hogging zone experienced a lower strength reduction of 13%. The C-FRCM repair solution designed in the present study compensated for the initial strength reduction caused by corrosion and restored the original load capacity of the control beam model.