Performance-Based Economic Evaluation of Retrofitted Slabs with Different FRP’s and Different Configurations

Restoring the strength and performance of the structural element has become the current topic of the research study. It is also been observed that well-established strengthening techniques are available for beams and columns such as section enlargement, jacketing, external bonding and near-surface mounted techniques, whereas the available strengthening methods for the slabs are limited. The saturation of carbon fiber reinforced polymers or commonly known as CFRP composites and glass fiber reinforced polymer commonly called GFRP composites, encourages the research activity for the product development of an alternative material to be used in structural retrofitting and rehabilitation of structures. Most importantly materials which are economically viable are very much required for the developing country like India. Polypropylene fibers, which are very much used in the industries like mining, agriculture, fabric industries, sports, hospitals and chemical industries and find a limited applications in construction industry. The economic analysis of the wrapping material was calculated based on the cost of the material, area of wrapping and strength achieved and it was found that the percentage increase in the ultimate strength of the strengthened slabs using the plus and square wrapping configurations was in the range of 2.9–6.4%.