Advanced Strengthening of RC Beam Column Joints with Aramid Fibre: An Experimental Investigation on Strength and Ductility Enhancement

During its whole life span, nearly all engineering structures ranging from the residential buildings, an industrial building to power stations and bridges face degradation and deterioration. The main causes for those deteriorations are environmental effects including corrosion of steel, gradual loss of strength with aging, variation in temperature, free-thaw cycles, repeated high intensity loading, contact with chemicals and saline water and exposure to ultraviolet radiations.The present experimental study is made on the torsional behavior of rectangular RC beams strengthened by bi-directional AFRP fabrics. Seven rectangular RC beams having same reinforcement detailing and designed to fail in torsion and are cast and tested till collapse. During testing deflections and strain measurements are observed with the help of dial gauges and strain gauges.