Strengthening of reinforced concrete beams with externally mounted titanium rods

Reinforcing concrete beams in buildings and bridges with externally attached retrofits is interesting because it enhances structural integrity without disrupting operations. These reinforcing methods can be reversible, low-invasive and quick to apply. This paper presents findings from an experimental and numerical investigation designed to evaluate the structural performance of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams retrofitted with externally mechanically attached titanium rods. Titanium's high durability and tensile strength allow for exposed, unprotected outdoor applications. Full-size RC 200x250x3500 mm beams were reinforced on the tension side with high-strength titanium rods to enhance bending capacity. Various titanium retrofit solutions were explored and applied to strengthen the beams, with particular focus on designing the titanium end plate that connects the external titanium rods to the RC beams. The results demonstrated a significant increase in bending capacity for the titanium reinforced beams compared to unreinforced control specimens. This innovative reinforcement method, along with the rod-to-concrete connection solution, significantly improved the bending capacity of the RC beams.