The Flexural Capacity of Laminated Veneer Lumber Beams Strengthened with AFRP and GFRP Sheets

This paper presents the results of preliminary tests focused on the strengthening of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams with aramid fibre-reinforced polymer (AFRP) and glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) sheets. Edgewise bending tests were performed on elements throught 4-point loading. The following two types of strengthening arrangements were investigated: sheets bonded to the bottom face along the entire length of the element, and a U-shaped half-wrapped type of reinforcement. The reinforcement ratios of the beams strengthened with GFRP sheets were 0.3% and 1.0% for the first and second strengthening arrangements, respectively; for the beams strengthened with AFRP sheets, these ratios were 0.2% and 0.64%, respectively. The experimental data revealed an increase in both the bending strength and the stiffness in bending of the strengthened elements. The failure mode was dependent upon the type of the strengthening configuration.