On Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Rehabilitation of Alkali-Aggregate Reaction-Damaged Beams

摘要

An experimental research program was undertaken to study the potential application of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials as external reinforcement for reinforced concrete beams damaged by alkali-aggregate reactions (AARs). To achieve this, 38 small-scale specimens were constructed using two concrete mixture proportions and submitted to exposure conditions chosen to generate a rapid increase of AARs. The specimens were externally reinforced with FRPs at different stages of the AAR progression. It was found that the parameters having the greatest effect on beam expansion were the type of concrete and the presence of the FRPs. Concrete expansion due to AARs was not similar in all directions; it depended on the orientation and ratio of reinforcement. Although FRPs produced a significant increase of flexural strength for the beams, this increase depended on the extent of AAR-induced damage and on the duration of AAR-inducing exposure conditions.