Behaviour of Segmental Concrete Beams Reinforced by Pultruded CFRP Plates: An Experimental Study

The research aims to develop an innovative technique for segmental beam fabrication using plain concrete blocks and externally bonded Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers Laminates (CFRP) as a main flexural reinforcement. Six beams designed and tested under two-point loadings. Several parameters included in the fabrication of segmental beam were studied such as; bonding length of carbon fiber reinforced polymers, the surface-to-surface condition of concrete segments, interface condition of the bonding surface and thickness of epoxy resin layers. Test results of the segmental beams specimens compared with that gained from testing reinforced concrete beam have similar dimensions for validations. The results display the effectiveness of the developed fabrication method of segmental beams. The modified design procedure for externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymers ACI 440.2R-17 was developed for designing segmental beams. The experimental test values also compared with design values, and it was 93.3% and 105.8% of the design values, which indicates the effectiveness of the developed procedure.