STRENGTHENING OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS WITH OPENINGS USING CFRP LAMINATES

Holes or openings are required to be provided through beams to facilitate services in
buildings, i.e. commercial and residential. Such services are usually electrical cables,
water supplies, air-conditioning, network cables and ventilation system
accommodated in utility pipes and ducts. However, the provisions of openings in
reinforced concrete (RC) beams have caused many problems to the beam behaviour.
The change in the beam cross-sectional area changes the beam engineering behaviour.
The change in the mechanical properties also causes cracking and deflection as well
as reduction of the beam stiffness and capacity.