INFLUENCE OF EPOXY-COATED REINFORCEMENT ON RESPONSE OF NORMAL AND HIGH-STRENGTH CONCRETE BEAMS

Investigates the effect of epoxy-coated reinforcement on the flexural behavior of both normal and high-strength reinforced concrete beams. T he flexural reinforcement was either uncoated or coated with either 6 to 8 mils or 10 to 12 mils of epoxy. Different types of cracks that we re observed, including flexural cracks, splitting cracks, and diagonal tension cracks, are discussed. Beams with epoxy-coated bars in both n ormal and high-strength concrete showed lower ductilities than similar beams with uncoated bars. The crack widths in specimens reinforced wi th coated bars are larger than in companion specimens with uncoated ba rs. Crack widths observed at service load levels in the high-strength concrete beams were typically smaller than those observed in normal st rength concrete beams. The high-strength concrete beams were less duct ile than the normal strength concrete beams.