Effect of confinement on concrete beams under cyclic loading with GFRP laminates

Abstract

Abstract A study had been conducted experimentally to analyse the cyclic behavior of confined concrete beams. The flexural members bonded with glass fibre reinforced polymer laminates (GFRP) at the beam soffit. Eight specimen with similar full-scale geometrical beam was studied under two-point cyclic loading. Two beam had controlled specimen, two beams had cellular stirrups with, and without GFRP, and 3\u202fmm thick laminates with normal stirrups and cellular stirrups respectively. The test was carried still the beams reaches the breaking load. The ultimate load, ultimate deflection, stiffness, energy absorption, number of cycles, first cracks appears and crack width are clearly noted and the effect of confinement was compared with the conventional beam. In this study increasing confinement had increased the ductility, stiffness of the beam and the GFRP laminates had augmented the flexural behavior of the member as per ACI 440.2R-08 guidelines.