#2: Reinforced Concrete Beams

Geopolymer-Carbon Composite for Repair and Rehabilitation
of Reinforced Concrete Beams
by
P. Balaguru, Stephen Kurtz, and Jon Rudolph,
Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ -08855-0909, U.S.A.

This report presents the results of an experimental investigation of the behavior of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with carbon fiber fabrics and geopolymer. The primary objective of the investigation was to determine whether geopolymer can be used instead of organic polymers for fastening the carbon fabrics to concrete. Four reinforced concrete beams that were similar to the ones reinforced with carbon fabrics and organic adhesives were tested. The beams had 0, 2, 3 and 5 layers of unidirectional carbon fabrics attached at the tension face of the beams. The results indicate that geopolymer provides excellent adhesion both to concrete surface and in the interlaminar planes of fabrics. All three beams failed by tearing of fabrics. This is very significant because very few researchers report failure of beams with tearing of fabrics. The most common failure pattern reported in the literature is the failure by delamination of fabrics at the interface of concrete and fabrics. Hence it can be stated that geopolymer provides as good or better adhesion in comparison with organic polymers. In addition, geopolymer is fire resistant, does not degrade under UV light, and is chemically compatible with concrete. Therefore, the product can be successfully developed for use in the repair and retrofitting of concrete structures.

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