Strengthening of pre-stressed concrete girders using

different external stressing techniques

Many factors may lead to the need of strengthening of concrete structures,

such as change of function, increase of loads, decay accidents or errors in design.
Strengthening techniques vary based on the nature of the structure. This research will
focus on the topic of prestressed concrete girders with the aid of external stressing
techniques.
The researcher will conduct laboratory tests for multiple techniques for the
prestressing practices for concrete girders using 3 meters long T section beam
samples. The research will follow two leads as to present a comparative analysis for
the different techniques.
At first, different positions for the external tendons support will be examined
using simple prestressed steel tendons as follows: (1) support at mid-span, (2) two
supports at specified intervals, (3) tendons extended straight at the sides of the body
of the beam with no in-span supports, (4) using the NSMR (near surface mounted
reinforcement) technique. (as demonstrated below).
After conducting the tests and determining the best external tendons
positioning technique. The researcher will proceed to examine different material for
the production of the prestressing tendons and these will include: (a) CFRP (Carbon
Fiber Reinforced Polymer), (b) GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer), (c) AFRP
(Aramid Fiber Reinforced Polymer).

(1)

(2)
 (3)

(4)

A total of eight samples will be produced for this research and these are as follows:

# Sample Prestressing position Tendon material

designation
1 Ref No prestressing -
2 P1 Mid-span support Steel tendons
3 P2 Two in-span supports Steel tendons
4 P3 Straight to the sides of the beam's body Steel tendons
5 P4 NSMR Steel tendons
6 M1 TBD* CFRP
7 M2 TBD* GFRP
8 M3 TBD* AFRP
* to be determined based on the results of the different positioning tests.

Test method:
The testing method in brief will be based on the flexural behavior of the
different samples with the use of a loading cell and the application of strain gauges on
concrete and steel and displacement gauges on concrete to monitor and record the
results.
A comparison can also be made between lab tests and a modeling procedure
using a finite elements analysis software to verify results.