Flexural response of HSC girders strengthened with non- and prestressed CFRP laminates

Abstract

An experimental programme was carried out to characterise the flexural response of prestressed highstrength concrete (HSC) girders strengthened with CFRP laminates. For that purpose, four beams with 20 m span were subjected to four-point bending loads and the effectiveness of two distinct strengthening strategies was analysed. The following testing situations have been considered: one girder was externally strengthened with CFRP laminates, whereas one was externally strengthened with prestressed CFRP laminates; the two remaining girders were left unstrengthened and were used as control. The monitoring system included the measurement of deflections at critical sections, strains in pre-selected points of the concrete girder and CFRP laminates and the applied loading, respectively using displacement transducers, strain gages and load cells. Herein, the tests are thoroughly described and the most relevant results and conclusions are presented.