Experimental and Numerical Assessment of Flexural Shear Behavior of RC Beams Enhanced using Hybrid CFRP–GFRP U-Wrap System

Notice

This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | 01 | Page :
    By

    Kallamadi Naveen Reddy,

  • M.HemaPriya,

  1. Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, BIHER, , India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, BIHER, , India

Abstract

This study examines the Reinforced Concrete beams strengthened in Flexural-shear using a hybrid Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) system that combines carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) in a U-wrap configuration. Six beams totally were made and the results were tested under 4 point bending moment using LVDT, in which three beams were of control beams without strengthening and another three externally wrapped using hybrid CFRP-GFRP U-wraps. The beams were built using M30 grade concrete, 2 x 10 mm tensile bars, and 2 x 8 mm compression bars. The hybrid strengthening configuration featured an initial layer of GFRP, followed by an outer layer of CFRP bonded using Araldite LY556 epoxy and Hardener HY951. The testing results demonstrate a considerable increase in load carrying capability, stiffness, and crack control when compared to unstrengthened beams. The flexural response of both control and strengthened beams was simulated using finite element modeling with ANSYS Mechanical. With respect to final load, deflection patterns, and stress-strain distribution, the numerical results were nearly identical to the experimental findings. The hybrid FRP wrapping system significantly improved flexural performance, including increased ductility and delayed crack propagation. The study shows that the CFRP-GFRP hybrid U-wrap system is an efficient and cost-effective alternative to single-type FRP reinforcement in RC beam retrofitting applications.

Keywords: Hybrid FRP; CFRP-GFRP U-wrap; Reinforced concrete beams; Flexural performance; Finite Element Modelling; Structural retrofitting.

How to cite this article:
Kallamadi Naveen Reddy, M.HemaPriya. Experimental and Numerical Assessment of Flexural Shear Behavior of RC Beams Enhanced using Hybrid CFRP–GFRP U-Wrap System. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(01):-.
How to cite this URL:
Kallamadi Naveen Reddy, M.HemaPriya. Experimental and Numerical Assessment of Flexural Shear Behavior of RC Beams Enhanced using Hybrid CFRP–GFRP U-Wrap System. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(01):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=235625


References

[1]       Ayesha Siddika, Krishno Saha, Md. Sumodro Mahmud, Sumon Chandra Roy, Md. Abdullah Al Mamun2, Rayed Alyousef (2019) Performance and failure analysis of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beams. SN Appl Sci 1:1617

[2]       S. Grelle and F. Matta, “Performance of CFRP and hybrid FRP systems for the flexural strengthening of RC beams,” Composite Structures, vol. 268, pp. 113989, (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2021.113989.

[3]       Govind Reddy and Dr. T. Muralidhara Rao (2017) Flexural Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beams using ANSYS. CVR Journal of Science and Technology, Vol.12.

[4]       H. Zhang, W. Li, and Y. Xu, “Experimental study on hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer wrapped beams under four-point bending,” Engineering Structures, vol. 285, pp. 115684, (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.115684.

[5]       Nabil F. Grace, Strengthening of Negative Moment Region of Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Strips, ACI Structural Journal, Vol. –, (2001)

[6]       M. A. Akinpelu and D. Nwankwo, “Numerical analysis of retrofitted concrete beams using finite element modelling in ANSYS,” International Journal of Structural Engineering, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 341–355, (2021). DOI: 10.1504/IJStructE.2021.100345.

[7]       M. El-Mihilmy and J. W. Tedesco, “Modelling the bond behaviour of FRP–concrete interfaces in hybrid strengthening systems,” Composite Part B: Engineering, vol. 248, pp. 110409, (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2022.110409.

[8]       M. Y. Rafiq and C. H. Lee, “Finite element modelling and experimental validation of FRP-strengthened reinforced concrete beams,” Structural Engineering and Mechanics, vol. 85, no. 2, pp. 223–238, (2023). DOI: 10.12989/sem.2023.85.2.223.

[9]       Francesco Bencardino, Vincenzo Colotti, Giuseppe Spadea, Ramnath Narayan Swamy, Shear Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beams Strengthened in Flexure with Bonded Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Laminates, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering (Can. J. Civ. Eng.), Vol. –, (2011).

[10]     K. Balasubramanian, T. S. Krishnamoorthy, B. H. Bharatkumar, N. Lakshmanan, Investigations on the RC Structural Elements Retrofitted Using FRP Wraps, Article, (2007).

Ahead of Print Subscription Review Article
Volume 14
01
Received 21/11/2025
Accepted 01/12/2025
Published 05/01/2026
Publication Time 45 Days
100

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics