Effectiveness of Strengthening RC Beams Using Composite Materials—An Accelerated Strengthening Method

The article analyses the results obtained from tests of preloaded reinforced concrete beams strengthened with carbon fibre strips bonded into the concrete reinforcement cover (NSMR method). Adhesive (thixotropic epoxy resin) bonding takes 7 days at 23 °C. The strengthening process was accelerated by heating the strip using a prototype heating device. Tests on the reinforced concrete members confirmed that accelerating the strengthening process is feasible and allowed the selection of the optimal heating temperature to provide the greatest strengthening level. The study primarily aimed to analyse the effectiveness of strengthening applied to the bottom of reinforced concrete beams under sustained loading throughout the adhesive curing process, simulating real conditions on site. Significantly higher strengthening efficiency was achieved with the use of strip heating, which accelerated adhesive cure time and reduced the strengthening execution time from 7 days to 1.5 h. The analysis included the evaluation of the effect of the steel and composite reinforcement ratios on strengthening effectiveness.