Análise experimental do desempenho à flexão de vigas de concreto armado reforçadas com laminado de fibra de carbono com variação da taxa de armadura existente e do mecanismo de ancoragem

Abstract

The strengthening of existing reinforced concrete structures with Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRP), using techniques such as Externally Bonded Reinforcement and Near-Surface Mounted, is common in practical applications, especially when using Carbon FRP (CFRP). However, in strengthening scenarios that require higher load capacities, these methods may be less effective due to premature debonding failure, highlighting the importance of anchorage systems to improve reinforcement efficiency. There is limited information in the literature regarding the influence of steel reinforcement ratio on the behavior of beams strengthened with anchorage systems. Therefore, this study experimentally investigates the flexural performance of reinforced concrete T-beams strengthened with CFRP, considering two steel ratios (0.44% and 1.12%) and two anchorage systems. Flexural tests were conducted on six T-section beams (2200 mm length, 280 mm height, 180 mm web width, and 80 mm thick by 350 mm wide flange). Each beam had 21 stirrups made of 12.5 mm bars spaced at 100 mm. For each steel ratio, one beam was unstrengthened (reference), and two were strengthened using either a friction-based mechanical anchorage (Hybrid Bonded – HB) or an anchorage system using bonded CFRP strips (FT). Strengthening was more effective in beams with the lower steel ratio, with strength increases of 58% for HB and 11% for FT. For the higher steel ratio, gains were limited to 10% for HB and none for FT. The HB system achieved a flexural capacity of 117.72 kN·m and showed better performance in intermediate displacements, with ductility increases up to 57 times at cracking and up to 100% at steel yielding. At maximum load, all strengthened beams showed reduced ductility. In the HB system, ductility loss increased with steel ratio, from 25% in the less reinforced beam to 49% in the more reinforced one. In the FT system, the trend was reversed, with a 66% loss for the lower steel ratio and 24% for the higher. Failure modes were governed by laminate slip in HB and cover delamination in FT.