STRENGTHENING UNDERGROUND REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES USING EXTERNALLY BONDED CARBON FIBRE-REINFORCED POLYMER SHEETS

Globally, most of our infrastructures have deteriorated or reached the end of their intended lifespan due to changes in usage or structural degradation. As a consequence, they are in urgent need of repair, strengthening, rehabilitation, or replacement. Canada is no exception and is facing challenges due to the condition of its concrete infrastructure, which requires immediate attention. For instance, the underground core network in Calgary's downtown, which comprises approximately 2735 manholes and 476 transformer vaults, exhibits severe deterioration. While replacing these underground structures with new ones would be ideal; however, it is not an option as it is often financially and operationally impractical due to their location and continuing usage. Therefore, repairing and strengthening these structures using Externally Bonded Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (EB-CFRP) sheets is crucial for the safety of Calgarians. Hence, this paper aims to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of using EB-CFRP sheets to restore the original flexural capacity of these deteriorated structures.