This paper deals with reinforced concrete beams strengthened by CFRP in flexure. The debonding between CFRP and the surface of the beam is the main problem. Many researchers around the world have made extensive efforts to study the phenomenon of debonding for efficient applications. Based on these efforts and different related field applications, code previsions and various models have been proposed for predicting debonding failure. Two code previsions and three typical models are presented in the current study. ACI-440.2R 17, CNR-DT 200 R1/2013, Said and Wu, Lu et al., and Teng et al. have been used to estimate the flexural strength of RC beams strengthened by CFRP with and without grooves. Test results of eleven flexural beams strengthened by CFRP sheet/laminate using externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) and externally bonded reinforcement on grooves (EBROG) methods were used in the current paper. The performance and accuracy of each model were evaluated based on these test results. Most of the prediction models that used in this study give a closer prediction of the flexural strength of beams strengthened by EBR compared to that of the beams strengthened by EBROG. Finally, the prediction results of CNR-DT 200 R1/2013 were the most accurate and approval with test results compared with other models in the current study

The externally bonded reinforcement on grooves (EBROG) method is increasingly recognized as an alternative strengthening method that can overcome the debonding problem. This study aims to experimentally investigate the effectiveness of EBROG as compared to the conventional externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) method in strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Twelve RC beams have been tested under four point load bending. One of these beams has been designated as a reference beam, seven beams have been strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets, and four beams have been strengthened with CFRP laminates using EBROG or EBR methods. The effect of CFRP type, number of layers, as well as the type of strengthening methods on the flexural performance have been also investigated. The load, deflection, stiffness, and failure modes were recorded and discussed intensively. Overall, test results indicated that the flexural strength and stiffness of the strengthened specimens using EBR or EBROG methods increased compared to the control beam, where the increase in the load carrying capacity of beams strengthened using the EBR method ranged between 24.8 and 48.2% and by the EBROG method ranged between 31.7 and 76.7% of the control beam. The most interesting result obtained is that the failure mode of beams has been changed from debonding of CFRP material to rupture of CFRP in some samples strengthened by EBROG, which demonstrates the superior behavior of this strengthening technique as compared to the traditional strengthening using EBR.