Use of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer to Provide Continuity in Reinforced Concrete Beams under Dynamic Loading

In many reinforced concrete frame structures designed before issues related to progressive collapse became important, it was common to have discontinuous positive reinforcement through a column. To provide toughness to such frames under dynamic loading, which may be generated due to sudden loss of a gravity support, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials can be installed on the bottom face or side faces of a reinforced concrete (RC) beam parallel to discontinuous longitudinal reinforcement. Behavior of rehabilitated RC beams was studied experimentally under dynamic loading, in which CFRP materials were used to provide continuity to the discontinuous reinforcement. Different levels of dynamic peiformance were observed depending on the details of application of CFRP materials. The test results indicated that anchored CFRP sheets successfully provided continuity to the positive reinforcement under dynamic loading so that plastic rotation capacity of the beams was realized. In addition, it was possible to develop fracture of the CFRP sheets after delamination using CFRP anchors and/or CFRP U-wraps.