Glulam beams reinforced with internally positioned CFRP plates

Abstract

In recent years the use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for strengthening and repairing structural members has significantly increased. This paper presents an experimental study carried out in order to investigate the effectiveness of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates as flexural reinforcement of glulam beams. All together ten reinforced beams and three unreinforced control beams were tested up to failure in a four-point bending configuration. Two different reinforcement schemes were considered. The bending behaviour of beams was analysed through their load-deflection relationship, failure mode, ultimate load capacity and stiffness. The addition of CFRP reinforcement to tension zone of glulam beams resulted in improvement in strength, stiffness as well as ductility.