Feasibility of using Natural Textile-based Composite for the Retrofitting of Reinforced Concrete Beams

Department of Civil Engineering, Saintgits College of Engineering, Kottayam, Kerala

^* Corresponding author: alice.j@saintgits.org

Abstract

In response to the growing demand for eco-friendly construction materials, natural fibers such as bamboo and jute have emerged as viable alternatives to traditional options like steel and concrete. These natural fibres offer several advantages, including high tensile properties, crack resistance, and moisture resistance, making them suitable for structural applications. This study explores the potential of bamboo textile-based composite and jute textile-based composite for retrofitting reinforced concrete beams. It was found that the 4-layer bamboo textile composite achieved a 50% increase in tensile strength and similarly, the 5-layer jute textile composite demonstrated a significant 90% increase in tensile strength. In this study, the optimized 4-layer bamboo textile and a 5-layer jute textile composite with are applied in a U-wrapping configuration for retrofitting purposes. Strengthened and preloaded beams were retrofitted and subjected to testing for comparison. The results indicate that the bamboo textile composite outperforms in terms of both strengthening and retrofitting applications.