Fatigue response of RC beam strengthened by BFRP laminate

Strengthening RC structures become more essential due to its deterioration, updating in new design codes, lack of quality control, and changes in the use of the structure. The technique of external bonding fiber reinforced polymer is recognized as a convenient method for repairing existing reinforced concrete structures and provides immediate shelter rather than replacement of the whole existing structure. Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer gaining more demand in recent research due to its eco-friendly properties. In this regard, this research investigates the efficaciousness of externally bonded Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) laminates in the reinforced concrete beam under repeated load. BFRP is externally bonded at the soffit of reinforced concrete (RC) beams to enhance its fatigue resistance. The load-deflection relationship, stiffness, crack pattern, and energy dissipation capacity of the BFRP-reinforced concrete beams are experimentally investigated and validated with the ANSYS simulated results. The experimental results exhibits that the BFRP reinforced concrete beams enhances the fatigue response, load carrying capacity and prevention of premature failure. The numerical results are validated with the experimental results which are found to be correlated with negligible deviation. Also, both investigations reveal the failure mode of RC beams, which helps fatigue life prediction in its application.