Shear Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Coupling Beams using Fabric-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix Composites

In this paper, the assessment of the shear strengthening of a series of RC coupling beams, manufactured in scale 1:2 with a span-to-depth ratio equal to 1.5, is presented. The retrofitting strategy employed to restore or upgrade the load carrying capacity of the structural elements consists in the application of Fabric-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix composite materials. The experimental campaign comprises monotonic and cyclic tests, in order to assess the potentiality of the FRCM overlay under different loading conditions. The efficiency of the retrofitting system is validated by testing non-damaged coupling beams, exploring also the effect of the addition of short PVA fibres to the mixture.