Harichandran, R. S., Hatfield, F. J., and Kifle, B. (1997). "Shear
reinforcement of wood beams with polymer composite materials."
Proceedings, International Conference on Engineering Materials,
Ottawa, Canada, 105-116.
Abstract
Recently, composite materials have been used as flexural reinforcement
in wood beams for transportation infrastructure applications. However, a
large market exists in states such as Michigan for short-span wood
bridges in which beams are typically shear critical. This paper reports
the results of a preliminary study investigating the use of glass fiber
reinforced plastic to reinforce short wood beams for shear. E-glass
fibers in pre-impregnated, woven and stitched forms were investigated
with resorcinol (phenol formaldehyde), epoxy and vinyl ester as
resins/adhesives. The experimental program consisted of small-specimen
tests to determine material properties, small-specimen adhesion tests,
and large-specimen beam tests. It is demonstrated that polymer composite
shear reinforcement is effective in increasing the overall strength of
shear critical beams and providing ductility.