Rehabilitation of RC inverted-T girders using anchored CFRP sheets

Abstract Existing infrastructure includes significant number of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges that are old and designed based on outdated design codes. Inverted-T beams used as bentcap girders that support the bridge’s longitudinal precast beams provided a popular structural system of many existing bridges. The structural behaviour of inverted-T beam is different than that of conventional top-loaded beams, due to the fact that the loads are introduced into the bottom flange rather than the top of the beam. The objective of the present study is to experimentally examine the effectiveness of new rehabilitation techniques using anchored carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets to eliminate non-ductile failure mechanisms in hanger, web, and flange zones of RC inverted-T girders. The experimental program of this study included conducting eight tests on four simply supported RC inverted-T girders before and after rehabilitation. The girders represent a 1/3rd scale model of a prototype bentcap girder. The experimental results showed that the proposed new rehabilitation schemes proved to eliminate the non-ductile mechanisms in hanger, web, and flange zones. The rehabilitated girders were able to reach displacement ductility levels of up to 4 and showed an increase in strength up to 20% compared to the control girders.