Description
Reinforced and prestressed concrete structures frequently need to be repaired and strengthened during their service life due to corrosion deterioration and other pathologies. Composite materials, such as textile reinforced mortar (TRM), have emerged as a promising solution for restoring or improving the load bearing capacity of structural concrete. Previous studies have demonstrated that the effectiveness of this strengthening techniques relies to a large extent on the bond between the textile and the matrix as well as on the bonded length to the substrate. The research presented in this paper aims to evaluate the efficiency of bond characteristics as well as the mechanical properties of various TRM systems. Carbon and basalt fibers were investigated along with conventional cement mortar and an alternative eco-friendly mortar. To examine the bonding behavior of each system, a single lap shear configuration aided with digital image correlation measurement was used. Tensile testing was carried out using a clevis grip configuration. To reduce the impact of the tabs length and prevent slippage between the textile and matrix, some modifications to the test set-up were made. The tension and bond properties obtained from the tests are analyzed and compared, and recommendations are presented regarding the bond and tensile test setups.
