Flexural Behaviour of Lightly Reinforced Concrete Beams Utilizing Graphene Oxide Powder

Abstract This study investigates the effects of graphene oxide (GO) incorporation on the flexural behaviour of lightly reinforced concrete beams. Six beams were fabricated with varying GO concentrations (0%, 0.01%, and 0.05%) and concrete strengths, then tested under monotonic loading. Results demonstrated that GO addition significantly enhanced both mechanical and structural properties, with more pronounced effects in lower-strength concrete. Compressive strength improvements reached 17% and 45% for high and low-strength concrete respectively, whilst ultimate load capacity increased by 17.19% and 45.24%. GO incorporation resulted in up to 40% reduction in crack widths and improved ductility, particularly in lower-strength specimens. However, high-strength beams with 0.05% GO exhibited premature reinforcement rupture, indicating the need for balanced design considerations. The optimal GO content was consistently 0.05% by weight of cement. These findings suggest GO modification is particularly beneficial for enhancing conventional concrete structures, though strength-specific design modifications may be necessary for high-strength applications.