Experimental Study on the Flexural Performance of Corrosion-Prone Concrete Beam Partly Reinforced With Carbon Textile

Abstract

Abstract. Textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) is gaining popularity due to its sustainability and performance advantages, particularly in applications where conventional steel reinforcement might not work. TRC, a state-of-the-art composite material, combines fine-grained concrete with textile-based reinforcement consisting of high-performance materials such as carbon, glass, or basalt fibers. The results of a study investigating the flexural behavior of partly replaced carbon textile-reinforced concrete beams subjected to corrosion are presented in this article. In addition to steel reinforcement, carbon textile coated with epoxy was used as a reinforcing material. Carbon textile was used to replace 25%, 50%, and 75% of the steel reinforcement in beams of size 1000 mm length, 100 mm width, and 150 mm depth. The beams’ casts were exposed to an accelerated corrosion process for 30 days and the corrosion potential was measured. To evaluate the flexural performance of the beams both before and after corrosion, a four-point bending test was used. An experimental investigation was also done to evaluate the degree of corrosion of the steel bar in each beam. The corrosion products of steel in the tested concrete specimens were examined separately through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Test results showed that during both phases, before and after corrosion, 50% and 75% of steel-provided carbon textile beams outperformed the conventional beam in terms of flexural stiffness and corrosion potential. Hence, to enhance the/flexural strength and corrosion resistance of beams, steel reinforcement carbon textile can be utilized as textile reinforcement.