Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) have become increasingly significant in real-world applications due to their superior strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and high stiffness. These properties make CFRP an ideal material for reinforcing concrete structures, particularly in scenarios where weight reduction is crucial, such as in bridges and high-rise buildings. The transformative potential of CFRP lies in its ability to enhance the durability and load-bearing capacity of concrete structures while minimizing maintenance costs and extending the lifespan of the infrastructure. This research explores the impact of reinforcing structural elements with advanced composite materials on the strength and durability of concrete and reinforced concrete structures. By integrating Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) reinforcements, we subjected both rectangular and T-section concrete beams to comprehensive three-point bending tests, revealing a substantial increase in flexural strength by 45% and crack resistance due to CFRP reinforcement. The study revealed that CFRP reinforcement increased the flexural strength of concrete beams by 45% and improved crack resistance significantly. Additionally, the load-bearing capacity of the beams was enhanced by 40% compared to unreinforced specimens. These improvements were validated through finite element simulations, which showed a close alignment with the experimental data. Furthermore, an innovative simulation study was conducted using a finely tuned finite element numerical model within the Abaqus calculation code. This model accurately replicated the laboratory specimens in terms of shape, dimensions, and loading conditions. The simulation results not only validated the experimental observations but also provided deeper insights into the stress distribution and failure mechanisms of the reinforced beams. Novel aspects of this study include the identification of specific failure patterns unique to CFRP-reinforced beams and the introduction of an enhanced interaction model that more accurately reflects the composite behavior under load. In CFRP-reinforced beams, specific failure patterns were identified, including flexural cracks in the tension zone and debonding of the CFRP sheets. These patterns indicate the points of maximum stress concentration and potential weaknesses in the reinforcement strategy. The study revealed that while CFRP significantly improves the overall strength and stiffness, careful attention must be given to the bonding process and the quality of the adhesive used to ensure optimal performance. These findings contribute significantly to the understanding of material interactions and structural performance, offering new pathways for the design and optimization of composite-reinforced concrete structures. This research underscores the transformative potential of composite materials in elevating the structural integrity and longevity of concrete infrastructures.

This study is an experimental study on flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete beam where three types of epoxy-bonded jacketing systems are used (glass fiber-reinforced composite (GFRC, S1), jute fiber-reinforced composite (JFRC, S2), and hybrid fiber-reinforced composite (HFRC, S3)) and an unjacketed control beam (S0). All the specimens were subjected to displacement-controlled three-point bending to measure the enhancement of strength, stiffness, and energy absorption using mass-normalized (TPM) and synthetic-content-normalized (TSM) performance indices. Jacketing compared to control also raised the maximum load from 11.80 N to 17.10 N for GFRC (+44.9%), to 14.64 N for JFRC (+24.1%), and to 14.89 N of HFRC (+26.2%). The energy taken up rose from 38.44 J (S0), 152.50 J (S1, +297%), 95.32 J (S2, +148%), and 132.79 J (S3, +245%). Flexural strength was also increased to 56.26 MPa (S1), 43.54 MPa (S2), and 51.38 MPa (S3) and yield strength was raised from 10.43 MPa (S0) to 26.40 MPa (S1), 16.84 Mpa (S2), and 23.05 Mpa (S3). The increase of flexural modulus between S0 (4871.33 MPa) and S1 (12,322.34 MPa), S2 (7862.61 MPa), and S3 (10,759.57 MPa) showed the enhancement of the stiffness. Mass-normalized performance showed great overall efficiency in the case of GFRC and HFRC, with TPM = 3.70 and 3.60 J/kg, respectively, and synthetic-content efficiency was higher in the case of JFRC, with TSM = 9.66 J/kg, which is the advantage of low-synthetic reinforcement in energy-based performance. In general, the suggested jacketing systems have a great influence on flexural responsiveness and power absorption, whereby GFRC and JFRC offer maximum capacity and stiffness, respectively, and the greatest efficiency per unit synthetic material, respectively. In terms of novelty, the paper is one of the first to measure the sustainability-based performance of an epoxy-bonded GFRC, HFRC, and bio-based JFRC jacketing, comparing the results in terms of synthetic-content efficiency (TSM) and mass-normalized indices, which reflect the energy absorption benefits per unit of synthetic material.