Experimental and Analytical Study of Tensile and Bond Performances of Glass Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix for Retrofit Applications on Concrete Surfaces

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanical characterization of Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM), emphasizing the tensile and bond performance of system incorporating Glass Fabric-Reinforced polymer (GFRP) mesh embedded in an inorganic binder. The primary focus is on the variation in the fabric reinforcement ratio and bond width for the shear bond test. To determine composite matrix tensile properties, rectangular cross-section specimens underwent direct tensile testing. The maximum tensile strength for composite sections with thicknesses of 8, 10, and 12 mm ranges from 1.03 to 5.91 MPa, varying with configurations of one to four layers, respectively. Test results revealed a substantial increase in tensile strength with an increase in fabric reinforcement ratio, with maximum tensile strength ranging from 6 to 63.77% compared to Aveston Cooper Kelly (ACK) theory and Simplified Tri-Linear model. Single-lap shear bond test conducted on concrete blocks to evaluate the bond strength between the GFRCM and the concrete substrate. The maximum bond shear strength for the specimen reinforced with one to four layers of GFRCM ranges from 4.86 to 14.65 MPa. The test results highlighted a strong bond and an increase in shear bond strength as the number of layers increases, with maximum shear strength ranging from 5 to 18% compared to the Interfacial Constitutive model. The bending test results showed a maximum strength increase of 8.49–18.73% compared to the single-layer reinforced specimen. The study concludes that glass FRCM significantly enhances the tensile, shear bond, and bending performance of concrete structural components in practical applications.