Adding extra load bearing capacity to reinforced concrete beams

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to gather information about the renovation of a concrete structure and strengthening techniques. The aim was to test a reinforced concrete beam at the construction laboratory of HAME. The thesis was commissioned be HAME University of Applied Science. Experiments performed for this survey were done at Sheet Metal Centre under the supervision of its employees and teachers of HAME University of Applied Science.

The first part of the thesis provides general information about reinforced concrete as a structural material. Renovation principles of reinforced concrete and techniques used nowadays are described in this part providing detailed and specified data.

The second part of the thesis focuses on the experiment based on the Hermite process in strengthening of concrete. It discusses the information about the test samples and their manufacture, arrangements and experiments, preliminary calculation and actual values obtained through the test.

The results gained through the experiment are considered a success. They confirm the relevance of the Hermite method and encourage more studies in the field.