Authors
Abstract
This paper presents results of an experimental investigation involving eight
tests on 1800mm long reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened in shear with
externally bolted carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. The overall
objective of this study was to investigate the shear performance and failure modes
of RC beams strengthened with externally fixed carbon FRP (CFRP) manufactured
U-warp strips and the specific goal was to keep the CFRP strips working till the
beam reaches its flexural failure because in most of the previous researches the
CFRPs debonded from the concrete surface and the failure (separation) happened
in the concrete. The variables investigated within this program included: CFRP
spacing and number of CFRP layers. The experimental results indicated that the
contribution of externally fixed CFRP strips to the shear capacity is significant and
depends on the variables investigated. In all the beam specimens (with end
anchorage) the debonding was not observed.
Keywords
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