Novel sustainable techniques for enhancing shear strength of RC beams mitigating construction failure risk

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of various innovative and sustainable methods for improving the shear performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. The potential risk of failure for such elements is considered a potential threat, therefore, this study addresses it through experimental tests and numerical analyses to be mitigated carefully in order to enhance the safety and sustainability of buildings. A total of eleven specimens, comprising two control specimens and nine strengthened specimens, underwent three-point testing. Several proposed strengthening techniques, each involving multiple parameters, were examined. In the initial approach, glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) textile embedded in an external fiber-reinforced cementitious mortar (FRCM) jacket was utilized, with an evaluation of the number of the GFRP textile layers (1, 2, and 3 layers). The second technique incorporated near surface mounted (NSM) GFRP bars along with the FRCM jacketing, where the diameter of the GFRP bars (10, 12, and 16 mm) served as the primary parameter. In the final technique, externally bonded stainless-steel strips (SSSs) of varying thicknesses (1, 1.25, 1.50 mm) were affixed to the beams’ surface. The obtained results revealed that the application of the FRCM jacketing method yielded positive results, showing a significant 30.7 % average increase in the crack initiation load and a 17.1 % improvement in the failure load compared to the defected beam. However, issues of debonding beneath the loading point were observed in the FRCM jacket, particularly with three layers of the GFRP textile, leading to the separation of the concrete cover. Moreover, combining the NSM GFRP bars with an FRCM jacket addressed the absence of shear stirrups. The most remarkable improvement was noted utilizing the NSM GFRP bars and an FRCM jacket, followed by employing SSSs with an FRCM jacket.