Comparative study on externally bonded heat-treated jute and glass fiber reinforcement for repair of pre-cracked high performance concrete beams

The adoption of natural fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites as an eco-friendly substitute for synthetic FRPs in structural strengthening applications is gaining substantial momentum. This study delves into the effectiveness of jute fabric reinforced epoxy composites in bolstering the flexural strength of impaired concrete beams. An array of variables, encompassing the number of fabric layers (ranging from 1 to 3), fiber heat treatment, externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) configuration (soffit vs. U-shape), and fiber type (jute vs. glass), underwent systematic scrutiny. The comprehensive analysis of 30 pre-cracked high-performance concrete beams yielded compelling findings. In particular, the application of heat-treated jute EBR, especially when employing two or three layers, resulted in significant increases in peak loads, translating to improvements ranging from 85 to 120