Flexural Strength Enhancement of Lightweight Concrete Beams Using Carbon Fiber and Epoxy Resin

The paper presents the effect of reinforcing aerated concrete and volcanic rock on flexural strength. The tests used a three-point flexural test on beams made of both materials and two types of reinforcement: an Epidian 5 epoxy resin coating and carbon fabric impregnated with the same resin. The carbon composite increased the strength of aerated concrete by 1940% and volcanic rock by 2633% compared to unreinforced samples. The resin alone improved the load-bearing capacity of the beams by aerated concrete 118% and volcanic rock 147%, respectively. The tests showed that the resin filled the pores of the porous materials, significantly increasing their flexural strength.