EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE APPLICATION OF TRC TO ENHANCE THE LOAD-BEARING CAPACITY OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLABS

Abstract

To enhance load-bearing capacity and prevent structural damage, reinforced concrete elements are often strengthened with additional layers of material. This study investigates the bonding performance between Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC) and reinforced concrete slabs through four-point bending tests. The primary objective is to assess the effectiveness of surface grooving on the old concrete to improve the adhesion between the TRC layer and the slab. Experimental results demonstrate that TRC strengthening significantly improves both the load capacity and mid-span deflection of the slabs. Specifically, TRC-strengthened reinforced slabs exhibited an average 137% increase in load-bearing capacity and a 53% increase in mid-span deflection compared to unreinforced slabs. Notably, no debonding occurred, even at failure, confirming the reliability of the grooving technique in ensuring a strong bond. The study concludes that TRC is an effective method for enhancing the flexural strength of reinforced concrete slabs, while also improving safety under high loading conditions.