article · Construction and Building Materials
Near-surface mounted aluminium tubes, combined with mechanical expansion anchors, provide an effective method to enhance the shear performance of reinforced concrete beams. An investigation involving nine beams tested variables including tube numbers, spacing, inclination angles, and mechanical anchorage under three-point loading. The results showed that mechanical anchors improved bond strength and delayed cracking. Specifically, using five anchored vertical aluminium tubes increased cracking load by 92 per cent, ultimate load capacity by 64 per cent, elastic stiffness by 200 per cent, and energy absorption by 223 per cent compared to a defective beam, matching a fully reinforced control beam. Testing also showed that a 45-degree inclination yielded the highest ultimate load among angled configurations. A validated three-dimensional finite element model confirmed the experimental load-deflection behaviour and failure modes.
Deficient or deteriorating concrete structures require reliable reinforcement methods to prevent shear failure. Using surface-mounted aluminium tubes with mechanical anchors restores structural integrity, improves ductility, and significantly delays cracking. This provides civil and structural engineers with a durable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly technique for retrofitting reinforced concrete elements to match the performance of fully reinforced beams without requiring full structural replacement.
This technique is intended for structural retrofitting and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete infrastructure, which could benefit structural engineering firms, repair contractors, and infrastructure asset owners. Based on the abstract, the method has been applied and tested on laboratory-scale beams alongside validated numerical modelling, indicating it is at an applied research stage rather than ready for immediate commercial deployment.
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This study investigates the shear performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with Near-Surface Mounted Aluminum Tubes (NSM-ATs) through experimental and numerical analyses. Nine RC beams were tested under a three-point loading setup to evaluate the effects of key parameters, including the number of NSM-ATs (four or five), spacing (150 mm or 106 mm), the presence of mechanical expansion anchors (MEAs), and strip inclination angles (60°, 45°, or 30°). The experimental results demonstrated that the anchorage system significantly enhanced shear capacity by improving bond strength and delaying crack initiation. The most effective configuration—five anchored vertical NSM-ATs—increased the cracking load by 92 %, ultimate load capacity by 64 %, elastic stiffness by 200 %, and energy absorption by 223 % compared to the defective beam, even matching the performance of the fully reinforced control beam. Inclined NSM-ATs also improved shear resistance, with the 45° orientation yielding the highest ultimate load. A nonlinear 3D finite element model (FEM) was developed using ABAQUS and validated against experimental data, showing strong agreement in load-deflection behavior and failure modes. The findings highlight the effectiveness of NSM-ATs, particularly when combined with anchorage, as a reliable technique for shear strengthening in RC beams, offering improved ductility and load-bearing capacity for retrofitting applications. • Near-Surface Mounted Aluminum Tubes (NSM-ATs) enhance RC beam shear strength. • Five anchored vertical NSM-ATs (106 mm wide) significantly improved cracking load, shear capacity, stiffness, and energy absorption. • The anchorage system delayed crack formation and reduced propagation, enhancing ductility. • ABAQUS-based 3D finite element modeling confirmed experimental results. • This technique offers a cost-effective, durable, and eco-friendly approach for RC beam strengthening.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142604
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