Flexural Behaviour of Reinforced Concrete Beams Repaired Using Geopolymer Fiber Mortar

Abstract

Geopolymer is an inorganic material that has brittle properties with low tensile strength. PVA fiber is one of the solutions to improve the strength of geopolymer. This research focuses on the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams strengthened by fly ash-based geopolymer and PVA fiber as an additive to get composited with the conventional concrete. The composite layer is applicated to repair and reinforcement of the deteriorating structure. This study was carried out with two variations of materials, named geopolymer with and without PVA fiber and normal concrete as a control beam. Also, there are two variations in the length of repaired and strengthen reinforced concrete beams, those are 1500 mm and 2700 mm in length and with 50 mm in thickness. The results show that the geopolymer mortar with fiber is more ductile compared to the control beam, in which it shows an increase into the maximum load and stiffness. On the other hand, about the failure mode, the geopolymer mortar beam without PVA fiber experienced debonding failure, while the geopolymer mortar beam with PVA fiber experienced delamination failure