External Shear Strengthening of RC Beams with Anchored Geopolymer Fiber Mortar Panel: An Experimental Study

Failure due to shear deficiency in reinforced concrete (RC) structures, particularly RC beams, is one of the most common problems encountered in RC structures. As a result, the effectiveness of using externally anchored geopolymer fiber mortar panels were investigated in the scope of this experimental study. The variable of the test programmed herein was the change in anchor bolt spacing. Two strengthened beams with 200 mm and 300 mm anchor bolt spacings, respectively, were tested. In addition, one un-strengthened beam was prepared as the reference beam to compared the load-deflection behavior, shear capacity, and failure mode of the strengthened beams. All the beams were tested under monotonic loading until reached the failure load. The experimental results of all strengthening beams showed an increase in the shear strength of the RC beams by 34.9% (spacing 200 mm) and 22.8% (spacing of 300 mm) compared to the reference beam. In addition to increasing shear capacity, the failure mode of the strengthened beam with 200 mm anchors spacing changed from brittle shear failure to ductile flexural failure with increased stiffness. This indicated that geopolymer fiber mortar panel is considered a promising technique that could be utilized to repair and rehabilitate shear deficient RC beams.