Rehabilitation of fire-affected reinforced concrete flexural members utilizing CFRP and GFRP

This paper explores the impact of fire on reinforced concrete (RC) members and proposes repair strategies utilizing Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) like Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP). Experimental investigation involved reinforcing fire-damaged concrete beams with CFRP and GFRP to restore structural integrity. The study comprised 3 CFRP-wrapped beams, 3 GFRP-wrapped beams, and 1 control beam, all sized 150 × 100 × 700 mm and constructed with M30 concrete and Fe 500 structural steel. After fabrication, samples underwent 28 days of open-air curing. Three-point bending tests assessed flexural strength, revealing significant enhancements in both CFRP and GFRP-reinforced beams compared to the control, with CFRP beams showing a 30% increase and GFRP beams a 35% increase. Failure analysis identified beam center failure due to flexural stress, with most cracking in the flexural region. GFRP-reinforced sections exhibited higher energy absorption, emphasizing GFRP’s efficacy. The study underscores successful outcomes with CFRP and GFRP, with thicker epoxy application effectively preventing breakage and ensuring structural stability.