As
an emerging technology, the use of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP)
reinforcements in the civil infrastructure
has seen an exceptionally rapid
growth as an alternative replacement to steel reinforcement. FRP reinforcements
have been used in various configurations using different techniques for
strengthening and repairing concrete bridges to restore or increase their
capacity. Externally bonded FRP reinforcements are currently the most commonly
used techniques for flexural strengthening of concrete girders and slabs. This
paper provides experimental results of an investigation that evaluated the
efficiency and feasibility of various systems for flexural strengthening of
large-scale
reinforced concrete girders dismantled from a 48-year old deteriorated
pedestrian bridge. The strengthening system comprised externally bonded Carbon
FRP (CFRP) including strips, plates and sheets. Another material known as
Steel-Reinforced Polymer (SRP) was also used as externally bonded sheets. Four
beams were strengthened with the above various strengthening systems using the
same axial stiffness and tested under static monotonic loading up to failure.
Two beams were tested without strengthening. A 25% increase in the yield load
and about 32% to 42% increase in the ultimate strength were achieved. the SRP
sheets were more effective at increasing the strength and ductility.