Effect of freeze–thaw cycling on the behaviour of reinforced concrete beams strengthened in flexure with fibre reinforced polymer sheets

Externally bonded fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) plates and sheets for strengthening and rehabilitating existing reinforced concrete structures have recently received a great deal of attention within the civil engineering community. Many tests have shown the benefits of FRP, but more information is required on their behaviour in cold regions. Twenty-seven small-scale concrete beams (100 mm × 150 mm × 1220 mm) were strengthened with FRP in flexure (and in some cases also in shear), subjected to up to 200 freeze–thaw cycles, and tested to failure in four-point bending. Test results were compared with those predicted by theoretical models and reasonable agreement between the tests and the models was obtained. Current design guidelines for FRP-strengthened beams were compared against the test data and were found to be adequate for the artificially aged beams. The test data also indicated that no significant damage to the glass or carbon FRP-strengthened concrete beams had occurred because of freeze–thaw cycling.Key words: concrete, rehabilitation, fibre reinforced polymers, FRP, beams, freeze–thaw, cold region engineering, flexure, external strengthening.