Novel Retrofitting Technique for Beam by External Wrapped with Glass Fiber and Internally Embedded Damper System for Sustainable Construction

Abstract Reinforced concrete structures are often exposed to extreme loads, such as those from sudden and accidental impacts. This has led to an increasing interest in strengthening these structures, improving their fatigue performance, and extending their service life, particularly for components like beams. A more sustainable approach to maintaining their functionality involves strengthening and repairing damaged components. Therefore, glass fiber polymers are ideal reinforcements for retrofitting due to their high tensile strength and low cost compared to other polymer substitutes This paper presents the performance of plain concrete beams reinforced externally with glass fiber sheets (GFS) and dampers embedded internally. A unique methodology has been adopted to improve the adhesion between the fiber glass sheets (GFS) and the concrete surface. Two adhesive components utilized are epoxy resin (ER) and epoxy hardener (EH), mixed in a ratio of 9:1. Internally embedded dampers are devices used to resist lateral forces on structures, particularly during impact or sudden loading. The adopted damper technique involves incorporating chopped Glass Fiber during the casting process of the dampers. These dampers are subsequently embedded into beams at point of failure. After the curing of 28 days, all the cast beam compositions undergo flexural test, and dampers are tested for compressive strength. After the dampers have undergone compression testing, a microstructural analysis is conducted using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). For further details on stress formation in beams, finite element analysis of Ansys is used to model beams for all beam compositions. Also, sustainability goals are addressed by reducing cement usage in construction by introducing retrofitting in older buildings and using this system to improve the design of newer buildings by reducing overall section sizes