Flexural performance of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with fibre reinforced geopolymer concrete under accelerated corrosion

The use of additional Reinforced Concrete (RC) layers or jackets is one of the most commonly used techniques for the strengthening of existing structural elements. A crucial parameter for these applications is the durability and the corrosion resistance of the RC layers. However, to date there are not any published studies on the use of novel cementitious materials for the improvement of the durability of the strengthened elements. In this study, a novel strengthening technique is proposed using additional high performance Fibre Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete (FRGC) layers and jackets reinforced with steel bars. The main goal of this technique is the improvement of the structural performance of the existing elements and at the same time the improvement of the durability and corrosion resistance of the strengthening layers. RC beams strengthened with reinforced FRGC layers were examined under standard and accelerated corrosion conditions. Accelerated corrosion tests were performed using the induced current technique followed by flexural tests. The results indicate superior performance for beams strengthened with FRGC and improved performance of the interface between the additional layer and the initial RC beam.