2. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMME
2.1 Test Series
There were three series of RC beam specimens prepared. In
the first series, two (2) specimens of un-strengthened RC
beams made of concrete grade 50 were prepared and were
designated as CB (control beam).
In the second series, there were two (2) specimens each of
RC beams designated as A-1R and A-2R, where the letter A
represents the beam strengthened with NSM GFRP rods and
the number 1 or 2 represents the number of NSM GFRP rods
covering the tension face of the RC beam for strengthening
purpose.
In the third series, a total of four (4) RC beams were
prepared and were strengthened using EB CFRP sheets. The
RC beams strengthened with external CFRP sheets were
designated as B-1S and B-2S which are referring to the
strengthening with one (1) and (2) layers of CFRP sheets at
the center of the soffit of the beam. Each CFRP sheets used
was 100 mm wide and 0.12 mm thick and bonded to the soffit
of the beam. The cut-off point of the sheet to be applied on the
soffit face is 20 mm from each support as shown in Figure 1.
The details of the specimens prepared in the first, second and
third series are shown in Table 1.