Strengthening effects of AFRP sheet bonding on impact resistant capacity of RC beams damaged due to impact loading

Abstract

To develop the rational strengthening method for improving the impact resistant capacity of RC beam damaged due to impact loading, falling weight impact tests of RC beams flexurally strengthened with Aramid Fiber Reinforced Polymer (AFRP) sheet were conducted. Experimental parameters of this study are with/without damage due to impact loading, AFRP sheet volume, and falling height of the weight. From this study, following results were obtained: 1) strengthening effects of AFRP sheet bonding on impact resistantcapacity of the damaged RC beams were almost the same with the case of not-damaged RC beam; 2) the greater the volume of AFRP sheet is, the more restrained the deflection can be; and 3) AFRP sheet may be ruptured due to stress concentration caused by occurring and opening of cracks.