Post-Tensioning Steel Rod System for Flexural Strengthening in Damaged Reinforced Concrete (RC) Beams

In this study, a post-tensioning method using externally unbonded steel rods was applied to pre-damaged reinforced concrete beams for flexural strengthening. Nine simply-supported beams, three reference beams and six post-tensioned beams, were subjected to three-point bending. The design parameters observed in this study were the amount of tension reinforcements (3-D19, 4-D19, and 2-D22 + 2-D25; “D” indicates the nominal diameter of the rebar) and the diameters of the external rod (φ22 mm and φ28 mm). A V-shaped profile with a deviator at the bottom of the mid-span was applied to the pre-damaged beams, and a post-tensioning force was added to overcome the low load resistance and deflection already incurred in the pre-loading state. The post-tensioning force caused by tightening the nuts at the anchorage corresponded to a strain of 2000 με in the external rods; this value was approximately equal to the strain caused by torque that two adults can apply conveniently. The post-tensioning system increased the load-carrying capacity and flexural stiffness by approximately 40–112% and 28–73%, respectively, when compared with the control beams. However, the external rods did not yield in the post-tensioned beam with larger steel reinforcements and external steel rods. The external rod with the larger diameter increased the flexural strength more effectively.