Structures 70 (2024) 107675

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Repairing thermally shocked reinforced concrete beams using innovative

CFRP sheets anchorage systems
Yasmeen Taleb Obaidat * , Wasim Barham, Yara H. Obeidat
Civil Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technoloy, P.O. 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effect of using a CFRP sheet to strengthen/repair ther­
Reinforced concrete mally shocked lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) and normal-weight aggregate concrete (NWAC) beams. It
Repair also aims, to evaluate the effectiveness of using an innovative anchorage system on the behavior of CFRP-
Sheets
repaired NWAC and LWAC beams. Eight LWAC beams, in addition to four NWAC beams, were cast, with di­
Rope
Carbon reinforced polymer (CFRP)
mensions of 150 mm × 200 mm × 1150 mm (width × height × length) with a 28-day compressive strength of 30
Anchorage, Lightweight MPa. Seven LWAC beams and three NWAC beams were heated to 600 ◦ C, followed by 15 min of rapid cooling in
Thermal shock water, and six thermally shocked LWAC and one NWAC thermally shocked specimens were repaired with CFRP
sheet and different anchorage systems of CFRP sheets and ropes. The anchorage systems used in this study were
fan NSM-CFRP rope, four U-Wrapping ropes, one or two fan/ five U-Wrapping ropes, and four U-Wrapping
sheets. After that, a four-point loading test was performed on all specimens. Test results illustrated that when
CFRP sheets were applied on thermally shocked LWAC and NWAC beams, the mechanical performance of both
damaged LWAC and NWAC specimens drastically increased. Furthermore, all innovative anchorage systems
considerably enhanced the ultimate load by a percentage of (30 %− 84.2 %), stiffness by (14.8 %− 59.2 %), and
toughness by (6.14 %− 22 %) of CFRP-repaired NWAC and LWAC beams compared with thermally shocked
LWAC and NWAC beams. Specifically, For LWAC specimens, the best method of repair was the one using a
bottom CFRP sheet with two fans and five U-wrapping NSM-CFRP ropes, which increased the ultimate load,
stiffness, and toughness by a percentage of roughly 84.2 %, 59.2 %, and 21.93 %, respectively, compared with
thermally shocked LWAC beam.

1. Introduction [3–6]. Also, in comparison to high-strength concrete (HSC),

normal-strength concrete (NSC) demonstrated greater heat resistance
Exposing reinforced concrete buildings to elevated temperatures and lesser strength reduction because HSC has less porosity than NSC
significantly degrades the mechanical properties of normal-weight Chang et al. [7]. The deterioration of damaged concrete’s properties
concrete (NWC), notably compressive strength. Numerous in­ depends on many factors such as aggregate type and properties, the
vestigations concluded that at temperatures of 500 ◦ C or greater, the interface between aggregate and cement paste, duration of
concrete’s compressive strength begins to decline dramatically. They high-temperature exposure, method of cooling (slow or rapid), and
provided an explanation for this based on the dehydration of calcium other factors [8].
hydroxide (CH), which occurs around 500 ◦ C, and the decomposition of Recently, the utilization of lightweight concrete structures has been
C-S-H gel, which occurs at temperatures between 600◦ and 900 ◦ C [1,2]. rising in the construction field, and this can be attributed to several
After the structure has been deteriorated by elevated temperatures advantages of lightweight concrete including low dead load, low den­
caused by a fire, the heated concrete structures may be cooled imme­ sity, and low thermal conductivity than normal weight concrete [9,10].
diately by water spraying, and this causes a thermal shock in concrete The two main categories of lightweight aggregates are natural (such as
members. This fast cooling by either water spraying or quenching in diatomite, pumice, volcanic, etc.) and artificial (such as expanded shale,
water makes the concrete lose a significant portion of its compressive perlite, clay, etc.) [Kılıc et al. (2003)]. Some researchers investigated the
strength compared with natural cooling and other cooling techniques mechanical properties of several types of lightweight aggregate

* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: ytobeidat@[Link] (Y.T. Obaidat).

[Link]
Received 17 April 2024; Received in revised form 21 September 2024; Accepted 27 October 2024
Available online 1 November 2024
2352-0124/© 2024 Institution of Structural Engineers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and
similar technologies.
Y.T. Obaidat et al. Structures 70 (2024) 107675

especially light expanded clay aggregate (LECA). LECA is a produced

lightweight aggregate and is suitable for structural applications [11].
Furthermore, mixes made with expanded clay aggregate had superior
residual strength characteristics owing to the shape or morphology of
expanded clay lightweight aggregate that affects its thermal properties.
Moreover, the pores in LECA permit faster egress of internal pressure
before causing a formation of damage, thus reducing the severity of
imposed damage [12] and Dabbaghi et al. [13]. In addition, at high
temperatures, the thermal conductivity of porous lightweight concrete
decreases, due to increase in porosity [14].
In recent decades, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have
been a widely utilized material to strengthen or repair reinforced con­
crete, due to the primary features of this efficient material involving low
weight, ease of installation, high strength, and durability. The use of
CFRP in repairing and strengthening aging concrete structures has
positive environmental impact due to its flexibility, faster setup, and
reduced construction time which contribute in reducing energy use and
CO2 emissions. Furthermore, CFRP requires less equipment and has
lower global warming potential, fossil depletion, and ozone depletion.
Several studies ascribed EB-FRP sheets’ efficiency to their greater ulti­
mate strength and ease of utilization, particularly when used to
strengthen or repair structural sections with complicated geometries
[15]. Repairing thermally shocked or heated damaged RC beams with
EB-FRP sheets or plates significantly improves and restores their shear
and flexural capacity Shannag et al. (2014), Abadel et al., [16]. This is so
especially, when using U-Wrapping FRP sheets to improve the material’s
mechanical properties of damaged beams [17,18].
Due to the possibility of debonding failure occurring, the use of
externally bonded FRP is less effective than the NSM category in
repairing or strengthening the structural members. Numerous studies Fig. 1. : Dimensions and reinforcement details.
recently focused on the use of NSM-CFRP ropes in strengthening or
repairing both undamaged and damaged reinforced structural members
Table 1
[19]. The effectiveness of employing CFRP ropes to repair RC beams that
Quantities of NWAC and LWAC Mixes.
were damaged by high temperatures hasn’t been sufficiently researched,
though. It is anticipated that employing CFRP-ropes improves the me­ Material (kg/m3) NWAC LWAC
chanical performance of any damaged structural element or provides a Cement 400 390
beneficial influence on recovering the capacity of the damaged struc­ Water 200 240
tural element. It was discovered that the use of NSM-CFRP ropes as a Coarse aggregate 978 403
Fine aggregate 580 560
retrofitting or strengthening technique had a substantial impact on the Silica Sand 145 140
mechanical performance of the beams. Retrofitting is improved when Superplasticizer 4 5.85
FRP strips are attached to RC beams, however performance is decreased Fly ash - 40
by debonding problems. Bengar, Shahmansouri [20] shown that in
continuous RC beams reinforced with CFRP strips, the addition of an end
2. Experimental program
anchorage system greatly increases load capacity, moment redistribu­
tion, and ductility.
2.1. Material properties
Haddad, Harb [21-23]. Concrete beams restored with CFRP ropes
and sheets have a promising long-term performance; however, there are
2.1.1. Concrete mixture and steel reinforcement
a number of possible mechanisms for degradation, including environ­
By using the mix design method (ACI-211), ordinary Portland
mental exposure exposure, creep and fatigue under continuous loads,
Cement (OPC), normal-weight aggregate, and lightweight aggregate
poor installation or environmental factors that cause bonding failure,
were employed to produce NWAC and LWAC mixes. Three concrete
and chemical attack on the CFRP resin., Smith and Jones [24].
cylinders of each type of concrete (LWAC and NWAC) with 100 mm in
The main objective of this experimental work is to examine the effect
diameter and 200 mm in height were cast to achieve a compressive
of using a CFRP sheet to strengthen/repair thermally shock lightweight
strength of 30 MPa after 28 days: slumps of LWAC and NWAC were 90
and normal-weight concrete beams. Though it is expected that the use of
mm and 80 mm, respectively. The ASTM standards were utilized to test
anchorage systems has a positive impact on the performance of repaired
the properties of the LW and NW aggregates employed in this study, with
beam, there are not enough studies that investigate the efficiency of
a maximum aggregate size of 19 mm for both types of aggregate. The
employing different anchorage systems in bonding thermally shocked
study used 20% silica sand, 80% fine aggregate by weight in LWAC and
beam with CFRP sheets. the major objective also to evaluate the effec­
NWAC mixes, and a w/c of 0.5 for NWAC and 0.6 for LWAC. In addition,
tiveness of using an innovative anchorage system like fan NSM-CFRP
1.5% of superplasticizer by weight of cement for LWAC mix and 1% of
rope on the behavior of CFRP-repaired normal-weight and lightweight
superplasticizer by weight of cement for NWAC mix were used. Grade 60
concrete beams.
deformed steel bars, 10 mm in diameter for top and bottom bars and 8
mm for transverse bars were used to reinforce all beam specimens as
shown in Fig. 1. Table 1 provides a summary of the quantities of the
NWAC and LWAC mixes.

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Table 2 Table 4
CFRP sheets and ropes properties manufactured by Sika. Specimens details.
CFRP Type Sheets Ropes Specimen Temp. Sheet’s Sheet’s Cooling repair
Name (◦ C) length width process techniques
Fabric Thickness 0.167 mm 2.98 mm
(mm) (mm) (Minutes)
Tensile Strength 3.5 GPa 2 GPa
Elongation break 1.7% 1.6% C-N − 23 23 - - - -
Modulus of Elasticity 225 GPa 230 GPa C-N − 600 600 - - 15 -
R-N − 600- 600 950 100 15 4 U wrapping
S− 4UR NSM-CFRP
ropes with
Table 3 bottom CFRP
Epoxy properties manufactured by Sika. sheet
C-L− 23 23 - - - -
Epoxy Type (Sikadur (Sikadur ¡52 (Sikadur
C-L− 600 600 - - 15 -
¡30LP) LP) ¡330)
R-L− 600- 600 950 100 15 4 U wrapping
Tensile Strength 18 MPa 24 MPa 30 MPa S− 4UR NSM-CFRP
Modulus of 10000 MPa 1100 MPa 4500 MPa ropes with
Elasticity bottom CFRP
sheet
R-L− 600-S 600 950 100 15 Bottom CFRP
sheet
R-L− 600- 600 950 100 15 1 Fan of 3 legs
S-1F of NSM - CFRP
ropes with
bottom CFRP
sheet
R-L− 600- 600 950 100 15 4 U -Wrapping
S− 4US CFRP sheet with
a width of
40 mm
R-L− 600- 600 950 100 15 1 Fan of 3 legs
1F− 5UR of NSM – CFRP
ropes and 5 U-
Wrapping NSM-
CFRP ropes
with bottom
Fig. 2. : Beam specimens in electric furnace. CFRP sheet
R-L− 600- 600 950 100 15 2 Fan of 3 legs
2F− 5UR of NSM – CFRP
ropes and 5 U-
Wrapping NSM-
CFRP ropes
with bottom
CFRP sheet

C: Control Specimens, N: Normal-weight Concrete, L: Lightweight Concrete,

Temp.: Exposed Temperature, R: Repaired Beam, S: CFRP Sheet, F: Fan, US: U-
Wrapping Sheet, UR: U-Wrapping Ropes.

reduction in compressive strength. This is in agreement with findings by

[19,25]. Manual recording and tabulation of the electrical furnace’s
temperature and time readings were done, and then Temperature-Time
curve was drawn as shown in Fig. 3 After that, all specimens were cooled
rapidly by quenching them in water for 15 min. This period of cooling
was determined according to [26] recommendation.
Fig. 3. : Temperature-time curve.

2.1.2. CFRP sheets/ropes and adhesive materials 2.3. Installation of CFRP ropes, and sheets
Two types of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) were pro­
duced by sika, specifically, CFRP sheets (SikaWrap ®− 301C), and CFRP The thermally shocked LWAC and NWAC specimens were repaired
ropes (SikaWrap® FX-50C). Sikadur-30LP and Sikadur-52 LP were uti­ with sheet and different anchorage systems as illustrated in Tables 4 and
lized to attach the CFRP ropes to the concrete surface. Sikadur-330 was 5.
utilized to attach the CFRP sheets to the surface. Tables 2, and 3,
respectively, list the physical CFRP sheets, ropes, epoxy (Sikadur − 330), 2.3.1. NSM-CFRP ropes
epoxy (Sikadur − 30LP), and epoxy (Sikadur − 52 LP). Grooves in four various forms were drilled to install the NSM-CFRP
ropes. The first shape was a fan with three legs spaced at a 45⁰ angle
and with the central point of the fan starting 170 mm away from each
2.2. Thermal shock process edge of the beams. The second shape was 4 U-Wrapping grooves, spaced
at 75 mm center to center: these grooves start after 110 mm space from
Seven lightweight and three normal-weight reinforced beams, as each edge of the beam. The third was, a fan with 3 legs and five U-
well as three LWAC cylinders and three NWAC cylinders were placed in Wrapping grooves used together to enhance the shear capacity and
an electric furnace as shown in Fig. 2 and heated to 600⁰ C for 3 h. The prevent occurrence of debonding failure. In the fourth shape of groove,
use of temperature 600⁰ C proved that high heat causes damage in five U-wrapping grooves, spaced along 42 cm starting 110 mm space
concrete members due to decalcification of C-S-H compound and high away from each edge of the beam. In addition, 2fans with 3 legs were

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Table 5
Repairing techniques for the thermally shocked beams.

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dimensions of 10 mm depth, 8 mm width, and 30 mm length using an

electric drill. The center of the fans had a depth of 25 mm and a diameter
of 15 mm. For the U-Wrapping grooves the dimensions were 25 mm in
depth, 18 mm in width, and 550 mm in length. Fig. 3. presents the beam
specimens after drilling the grooves. Then, the epoxy was used to fill all
grooves. Epoxy is a strong adhesive. Filling grooves with epoxy provided
strong bond between CFRP-ropes and the concrete, leading to better
load transfer and an increase in overall beam capacity. The groove size is
limited to the dimensions of the rope After that, to make sure the grooves
were free of air and voids, the CFRP-ropes were attached to the grooves
and strongly pressed [27] before the CFRP sheet installation as shown in
Fig. 5. For 7 days, all specimens were preserved at 23 ◦ C under appro­
priate conditions.

2.3.2. CFRP sheets

To increase shear capacity in addition to flexural repairs, CFRP
sheets were placed with a U-wrapping form with 550 mm length and
40 mm width and installed after 100 mm away from each edge of the
beam. The same procedure described in section 3.3.1. for installing
CFRP ropes was utilized, but Sikadur®- 52 LP made by SIKA, another
type of epoxy, was applied externally. The installation of the CFRP
sheets is illustrated in Fig. 6.

2.4. Test specimens

Using a universal testing machine with a capacity of around

2000 kN, all specimens were tested under four-point loading. Using load
control, the load was raised gradually at a constant rate of 0.3 KN/sec,
and the test results were recorded utilizing a data acquisition system. As
illustrated in Fig. 7, a 350 mm shear span and a clear span of 1050 mm
(between each support) were determined. The mid-span deflection of
the beam was measured using an LVDT (Linear Variable Differential
Fig. 4. : Grooving the specimens. Transducer).

drilled, spaced at an angle of 45⁰, with the central point of the fan
starting 270 mm away from each edge of the beams.
After drilling the grooves, pressurized air produced by the vacuum
cleaner was used to remove the dust. All grooves were then cleaned with
a volatile liquid to enhance the bond between the CFRP ropes, and the
concrete surface. The fans’ grooves were drilled with the same

Fig. 5. : CFRP ropes installation.

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Y.T. Obaidat et al. Structures 70 (2024) 107675

Fig. 6. : U-wrapping CFRP sheet installation.

Fig. 7. : Four point loading test setup.

LWAC cylinder specimens were constructed to examine the influence of

Table 6
thermal shock on the compressive strength of concrete. After 28 days of
Average cylinder compressive strengths for undamaged and damaged LWAC and
curing, three cylinders of each type of concrete (LWAC, and NWAC)
NWAC cylinders.
were tested: the average cylinder compressive strengths for LWAC and
Concrete f’c (MPa)
NWAC, were approximately 30.92 MPa and 33 MPa, respectively.
Type
Undamaged Cylinders (At 28 days Thermally Shocked Table 6 presents the results of compressive strength for LWAC specimens
of curing) Cylinders and NWAC specimens, respectively. Based on the results of Table 6,
LWAC 30.92 19.98 thermal shock causes a 35.4% reduction in LWAC’s compressive
NWAC 33.0 8.62 strength, while the thermal shock decreased NWAC’s compressive
strength by 73.88%. Consequently, it can be concluded that the LWAC
obtained greater residual compressive strength compared to the NWAC.
3. Test results and discussion
This is due to the lightweight aggregate’s nature involving less water
evaporation in C-S-H compound and higher thermal stability than
3.1. Influence of thermal shock on the mechanical properties of LWAC
normal-weight aggregate. This finding is in agreement with those by
and NWAC beams
Haddad and Al-Rousan (2016), Go et al., [28], Akçaözoğlu and
Akçaözoğlu [12]. It should be noticed also that this degradation of
3.1.1. Compressive strength of concrete
compressive strength is attributed to the chemical and physical changes
Three cylinders of LWAC with a diameter of 100 mm and height of
that occur in concrete at temperatures above 300⁰ C. Additionally, when
200 mm, and three cylinders of NWAC with the same dimensions as
temperatures reach 550 ⁰C and beyond, calcium hydroxide (CH) starts to

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Table 7 unheated weight was 10.62% and 6% for LWAC, respectively, and
Weight for undamaged and damaged LWAC and NWAC specimens. 11.86% and 7.1% for NWAC. Both LWAC and NWAC exhibit weight loss
Concrete Weight (Kg) at high temperatures, This is due to the nature of lightweight aggregate,
type including, less water evaporation in C-S-H structure/ compound, and
Undamaged Heat damaged Thermally shocked
Specimens Specimens specimens low heat conductivity. In addition, NWAC has a larger thermal expan­
sion coefficient than LWAC. Sancak et al., [29].
LWAC 76.20 68.10 71.70
NWAC 85.10 75 79.10
3.1.3. Crack patterns caused by thermal shock
The crack patterns for thermally shocked LWAC and NWAC beams
are illustrated in Fig. 8 (a), and Fig. 8 (b), respectively. It can be
concluded from Fig. 8 that the cracks in NWAC were narrower and
shorter than in LWAC. Moreover, the number of cracks in NWAC beams
was larger than the number of those in LWAC beams. These cracks also
spread/were distributed extensively on side of the beam in each type of
concrete as a spider- net shape. This shape of cracks that appear in
thermally shocked specimens can be caused by reasons like the concrete
expansion due to temperature increases, vapor pressure induced by
water evaporation from gel pores, and declassification of hydration
products [Al Rousan and AL-Tahat 2020)].

3.2. Load-deflection curve

There are three stages in the load-deflection curve: the initial stiff­
ness stage, the pre-yield stage, and the post-yield (hardening) stage. The
experimental findings, mechanical characteristics, and failure modes of
each tested specimen are presented in Table 8 These characteristics
Fig. 8. : Crack patterns of thermally shocked LWAC and NWAC beams.
include toughness, stiffness, the ultimate load, and the max deflection.
Stiffness, which is the slope of the load-deflection curve’s linear portion,
dehydrate, which significantly lowers compressive strength [1]. was calculated using Excel’s best-fit linear equation for the curve’s
linear portion [21]. Toughness, defined as the area under the
3.1.2. Weight Loss load-deflection curve, was calculated using the trapezoidal rule. The
To estimate the weight loss that may have occurred due to heat load-deflection curves for the undamaged LWAC and NWAC beams,
damage and thermal shock, one specimen of each type of concrete thermally shocked LWAC and NWAC beams, and repaired beams are
(LWAC and NWAC) was weighed before and after being damaged. The shown in Fig. 9.
specimen weights before being subjected to heat, after being subjected
to heat, and after water immersion are illustrated in Table 7. According 3.2.1. Undamaged and damaged LWAC and NWAC beams
to the values presented in this table, the weight loss percentage after Fig. 9 (a) below and Table 8 show that the values of ultimate load,
being subjected to heat and after rapid cooling in comparison to the stiffness, and toughness for C-N-23 were higher than those for C-L-23 by

Table 8
Experimental results of tested LWAC and NWAC beams.
Specimen Designation Pu Δu K T F.M

(kN) (mm) (kN/mm) ([Link])

Group 1 C-N ¡ 23 98.6 14.7 35.5 1333.9 a and b

Control Specimens (—) (—) (—) (—)
C-L¡23 95.2 17.1 28.6 1270 a and b
(—) (—) (—) (—)
Group 2 C-N ¡ 600 82 15.2 16 875 a and b
Thermally Shocked and Repaired Specimens (—) (—) (—) (—)
C-L¡600 76.4 18.8 13.35 1112.4 a and b
(—) (—) (—) (—)
R-N ¡ 600-S¡4UR 130.4 10.1 20.1 884.8 c
(59%)* (33.56%)* * (25.3%)* (6.14%)*
R-L¡600-S¡4UR 122 14 17.5 1230.9 d
(60.2%)* (25.5%)* * (31.1%)* (10.6%)*
R-L¡600-S 101.3 9.65 15.33 605.82 d
(32.4%)* (48.6%)* * (14.8%)* (− 45.5%)*
R-L¡600-S-F 99.3 10.3 18.1 606.65 d
(30%)* (45.2%)* * (35.6%)* (− 45.3%)*
R-L¡600-S¡4US 124 11.9 19.40 924.96 c
(62.3%)* (36.7%)* * (45.3%)* (− 16.8%)*
R-L¡600-1F¡5UR 134 16.8 18.55 1327.5 c
(75.4%)* (10.6%)* * (39%)* (19.3%)*
R-L¡600-2F¡5UR 140.7 14.9 21.25 1356.54 d
(84.2%)* (20.7%)* * (59.2%)* (22%)*

Pu: Ultimate Load Capacity, Δu: Maximum Deflection, K: Stiffness, T: Toughness.

• F.M: Failure Mode, a: Flexural Failure, b: Concrete crushing, c: Flexural cracks followed by CFRP sheet debonding, d: Horizontal cracks followed by concrete cover separation.
• * : Percent Increase with Respect to the Thermally Shocked Beam.
• * *: Percent decrease with Respect to the Thermally Shocked Beam

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Fig. 9. : Load-deflection curves for beam specimens.

3.45%,19.44%, and 4.80%, respectively. The load-deflection curve was

severely influenced by thermal shock in terms of ultimate load, ultimate
deflection, stiffness, and toughness, as illustrated in Fig. 9 (a) and
Table 8. The ultimate loads of the damaged specimens (C-L-600, and C-
N-600) were, respectively,19.33%, and16.84% lower than those of the
undamaged specimens (C-L-23, and C-N-23). It can be concluded that
NWAC specimen have higher load than LWAC specimen before and after
heat exposure although LWAC specimen have higher compressive
strength after heat exposure. Additionally, the max deflection of the
thermally shocked specimens (C-L-600, and C-N-600) slightly increased,
which may be due to the softening behavior in the stress-strain response. Fig. 10. : Percentage of Increase in the load-deflection characteristics for
Furthermore, the stiffness of the same damaged specimens mentioned repaired LWAC beams.
above was%, respectively, 53.2%, and 55 lower than that of the un­
damaged specimens. In addition, the reduction in toughness for (C-L-

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Fig. 11. : Modes of failure.

600) was 12.41% but the corresponding reduction in (C-N-600) was specimen (C-L-600). Furthermore, the stiffness for the same specimens
34.41%, which means LWAC performed better than NWAC in terms of with the CFRP sheet and with the fan anchorage system previously
keeping the material stiffness and toughness owing to less severe dam­ described was, respectively, 14.8% and 18% higher than those of the
age. This agrees with findings by [13]. thermally shocked LWAC specimen. It is clear from Fig. 9 (b) that there
is no significant difference in mechanical properties improvement for
3.2.2. Repaired specimens with bottom EB-CFRP and fan NSM-CFRP rope the specimen repaired with EB-CFRP sheet and the specimen anchored
As shown in Fig. 9 (b) below and Table 8 above, the use of the EB- with a fan anchorage system. Also, the enhancement in ultimate load,
CFRP sheet and the fan NSM-CFRP rope to repair and anchor ther­ and stiffness, resulted from applying a CFRP sheet on the bottom side
mally shocked LWAC beams substantially improved the ultimate load, Alshannag and Alshenawy (2022).
stiffness, and toughness. The ultimate load was, respectively, 32.4% and
30% higher for the specimens with CFRP sheet and with fan anchorage
system (R-L-600-S) and (R-L-600-S-F) than for the thermally shocked

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Fig. 11. (continued).

3.2.3. Repaired specimens with U-wrapping /fan CFRP ropes and U- respectively. It can be shown that the use of U-Wrapping /Fan CFRP
wrapping sheets ropes was the best innovative anchorage system that significantly
Fig. 9 (c) below shows that the ultimate load for the repaired spec­ enhanced the ultimate load, stiffness, and toughness when compared to
imens increased when using 1fan and 2fan with five U wrapping ropes the other anchorage systems. The results from different repairing
NSM-CFRP (R-L-600–1F-5UR, and R-L-600–2F-5UR) as anchorage sys­ methods are summarized in the bar charts presented in Fig. 10 (a-c).
tems by 75.4%, and 84.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, when using Four These results show that all anchorage systems used to repair thermally
U-Wrapping CFRP sheets and Four U-Wrapping NSM-CFRP ropes shocked LWAC beams had a beneficial impact on ultimate load, stiffness,
anchorage systems (R-L-600-S-4US, and R-L-600-S-4UR), the ultimate and toughness. More specifically, the use of five U-wrapping NSM-CFRP
load increased by 62.3%, and 60.2%, respectively. Additionally, the ropes with two fans was the best anchorage system in improving the
stiffness of the same repaired specimens (R-L-600–1F-5UR, R-L-600–2F- ultimate load, stiffness, and toughness. This is due to the CFRP ropes’
5UR, R-L-600-S-4US, and R-L-600-S-4UR) was increased by 39%, superior resistance to external loads that is higher than the steel yield
59.2%, 45.3%, and 31.1%, respectively. Moreover, toughness of load [21] and the higher tensile modulus of the CFRP ropes [19].
anchored specimens (R-L-600–1F-5UR, R-L-600–2F-5UR, and R-L-600-
S-4UR) increased significantly by 19.34%, 22%, and 10.65%,

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Fig. 11. (continued).

3.3. Failure modes 600–2F-5UR) failed due to cover separation resulting from stress con­
centration followed by CFPR sheet debonding without occurrence of the
Fig. 11 illustrates the failure modes of the beam specimens. rupture after the position of the fans. This means that the use of fan and
Numerous flexural cracks that started at the midpoint of the beam in the U-wrapping NSM ropes was the best innovative anchorage system in
pure moment zone caused the undamaged and damaged LWAC and enhancing the failure mode and the capacity of the beam. Fig. 11 (j)
NWAC specimens (C-L-23, C-N-23, C-L-600, and C-N-600) to fail in a illustrates the failure mode of the R-L-600–2F-5UR specimen. Finally,
usual flexural failure pattern as shown in Fig. 11 (a), (b), (c), and (d), the LWAC specimen was repaired with 4 U-Wrapping sheets (R-L-600-S-
respectively. The repaired specimen with bottom EB-CFRP sheet (R-L- 4US), and because of increasing the load, the flexural cracks widened
600-S) only failed due to horizontal cracks resulting from stress con­ and developed. After that, the debonding of the U-wrapping sheet
centration that caused end cover separation with CFRP debonding close occurred as shown in Fig. 11 (k).
to the middle of the beam as illustrated in Fig. 11 (e). The specimen
anchored with fan NSM-CFRP ropes (R-L-600-S-F) also failed in the same 4. Conclusion
manner as the repaired specimen with bottom EB-CFRP sheet failed but
without CFRP occurrence as shown in Fig. 11 (f). After testing the pre­ This study came up with the following main findings:
vious specimens (R-L-600-S, and R-L-600-S-F), more improvement in the
mechanical properties of the thermally shocked beam was needed. Thus 1. Thermal shock reduced compressive strength by 35.4% and 73.88%
4U-Wrapping NSM-CFRP ropes were applied before the bottom CFRP for LWAC and NWAC, respectively. However, LWAC had higher re­
sheet installation as an anchorage system. The repaired LWAC specimen sidual compressive strength than NWAC.
with 4U-Wrapping ropes (R-L-600-S-4UR) failed by concrete cover 2. Thermal shock substantially influenced the mechanical properties
separation with CFRP debonding as illustrated in Fig. 11 (g), Regarding and the performance of the LWAC and NWAC beams. This effect can
the repaired NWAC specimen with 4U-Wrapping ropes (R-N-600-S- be characterized as a decrease in ultimate load, stiffness, and
4UR), the CFRP debonding happened at the end of the bottom CFRP toughness.
sheet. Fig. 11 (h) shows the failure mode of the R-N-600-S-4UR spec­ 3. Both LWAC and NWAC lost part of their mechanical properties after
imen. The remaining LWAC specimens were repaired with fan/U- exposure to elevated temperature. Specifically, NWAC lost more
Wrapping NSM CFRP ropes and U-Wrapping CFRP sheets. Regarding stiffness, weight, and toughness when compared with LWAC.
the repaired LWAC specimen with 1fan/5U-Wrapping ropes (R-L- 4. All anchorage systems significantly enhanced the ultimate load, and
600–1F-5UR), when the load increased, CFPR sheet rupture and stiffness, of CFRP-repaired NWAC and LWAC beams. For LWAC
debonding occurred after the position of the fan as shown in Fig. 11 (i). specimens, the best method of repair was using a bottom CFRP sheet
But the repaired LWAC specimen with 2fan/5U-Wrapping ropes (R-L- with two fans and five U-wrapping NSM-CFRP ropes, which

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Y.T. Obaidat et al. Structures 70 (2024) 107675

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Declaration of Competing Interest reinforced concrete beams strengthened with external FRP. Constr Build Mater
2014;50:577–83.
[16] Abadel A, Abbas H, Albidah A, Almusallam T, Al-Salloum Y. Effectiveness of GFRP
The authors declare no conflict of interest. strengthening of normal and high strength fiber reinforced concrete after exposure
to heating and cooling. Eng Sci Technol, Int J 2022;36:101147.
Acknowledgment [17] Al-Rousan RZ, Haddad RH, Swesi AO. Repair of shear-deficient normal weight
concrete beams damaged by thermal shock using advanced composite materials.
Compos Part B: Eng 2015;70:20–34.
The financial support provided the research deanship at Jordan [18] Haddad RH, Shannag MJ, Moh’d A. Repair of heat-damaged RC shallow beams
University of Science and Technology is gratefully acknowledged, Grant using advanced composites. Mater Struct 2008;41(2):287–99.
[19] Obaidat YT, Barham W, Obeidat RB. Repair of thermally shocked reinforced
No. 185-2022.
concrete beams using near-surface mounted–Carbon fiber reinforced polymers
ropes and strips. Constr Build Mater 2023;366:130201.
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