Innovative Sustainable Lightweight Hybrid System for Strengthening Prestressed/Reinforced Concrete Beams

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the development of innovative, sustainable, and lightweight hybrid systems for strengthening reinforced and prestressed concrete structures. The proposed approaches combine metallic and fiber-reinforced polymer components to overcome the principal limitations associated with conventional externally bonded strengthening techniques, particularly premature debonding, stiffness incompatibility, and limited post-yield ductility. By integrating aluminum alloy fuse elements with PET, GFRP, and CFRP materials in compatible strengthening configurations, the developed systems improve stress transfer, delay or prevent brittle failure, and promote a more gradual and ductile structural response. The research demonstrates the potential of these hybrid solutions to enhance flexural strength, deformation capacity, strain performance, and overall structural reliability while reducing dependence on labor-intensive mechanical anchorage. In addition, the use of lightweight and recyclable materials supports more sustainable rehabilitation practices and provides an effective alternative for extending the service life of existing concrete infrastructure.