Enhancing the flexural capacity of reinforced concrete beams: A comprehensive review of inorganic composite solutions

The increasing demand for rehabilitating and strengthening existing reinforced concrete (RC) beams has led to new advances in materials beyond conventional fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP). This paper reviews existing research focused on inorganic, cementitious composites, including fabric-reinforced cementitious mortar (FRCM), textile-reinforced mortar (TRM), mineral-based composites (MBC), textile-reinforced concrete (TRC), and fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) as sustainable alternatives to organic, epoxy-based FRP for flexural strengthening of RC beams under static and fatigue loading. The study reviews a consolidated experimental and numerical database to quantify the performance of these materials, with a focus on the key performance indicators: ultimate and yield loads, failure modes, stiffness, ductility, and fatigue life. The results indicate that advanced composites significantly improve flexural capacity by 91%, stiffness by almost 29%, and fatigue resistance by 2×10 6 cycles; however, the increase in ductility depends on type and configuration of the reinforcing material. Furthermore, the superior fire performance and affordability of inorganic strengthening systems are emphasized. The review finds that cementitious composites are promising alternatives for reinforcing reinforced concrete beams effectively and sustainably.