Debonding problems of externally bonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets in flexurally FRP-strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beams have been a concern and a research challenge since their application of this strengthening technique. Intermediate crack induced debonding is the most common failure mode which is that the debonding initiates at the critical flexural-shear or flexural cracks and propagates towards the direction of moment decrease. To mitigate debonding failure, most Codes and proposed models take the method by limiting the allowable tensile strain in FRP laminates. This paper presents experimental tests of concrete beams flexurally strengthened with externally bonded CFRP sheets to investigate debonding initiation and tensile strain of FRP laminates. The allowable tensile strain of FRP sheets in flexurally FRP-strengthened RC beams proposed by prevalent Code provisions and models was assessed based on the data obtained from experimental programs. It has beenshown that the allowable tensile strains provided by these provisions and models have a great difference with that of experimental results and exhibit a high level of dispersion. Furthermore, the FRP laminates of most tested RC beams were debonded before reaching the proposed allowable tensile strain. The Code provisions and models are inadequate to effectively prevent intermediate crack induced debonding failure in flexurally FRP-strengthened RC members. This is known to be a critical issue in engineering design and application of RC beams flexurally strengthened by FRP sheets.

Abstract:Most of the laboratory tests investigated the flexural performance of un-preloaded or undamaged RC beams strengthened with CFRP composites. However, in engineering applications, the structural member must carry a certain load or damage. There is a lack of systematical investigations on the effects of preload or damage level on the flexural load-carrying capacity of CFRP-strengthened RC beams. This paper tested 22 RC beams to investigate the influence of preload level on flexural load-carrying capacity of CFRP-strengthened RC beams. The test variables are preload level, amount of CFRP sheets, tension rebar ratio, and concrete strength. The test results show that if the preload level is not more than 80% of the yielding strength of the original beam, the preload or damage level does not influence the flexural load-carrying capacity of CFRP-strengthened RC beams. However, the ultimate flexural load-carrying capacity is significantly poor than that of RC beam strengthened under a preload level not more than 80% of the yielding strength, if the RC beams are strengthened under a preload level more than 90% of the yielding strength.

It is an effective way to improve the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) members by externally bonded carbon fiber reinforcement polymer (CFRP) laminates on the soffit of the members. However, there is little investigation on flexural performance of RC beam flexurally strengthened by side-bonded FRP laminates. To investigate the flexural behavior of RC beams side-bonded CFRP laminates and the difference of RC beams strengthened by soffit-bonded and side-bonded CFRP laminates, a total of 8 CFRP-strengthened beams and 1 control beam were tested. The experimental results show that: 1) the first crack loads of RC beams strengthened by side-bonded CFRP laminates are much higher than that of RC beams strengthened by soffit-bonded CFRP laminates. The first crack loads of side-bonded CFRP laminates beams improved significantly; 2) Side-bonded and soffit-bonded CFRP laminates have almost the same effect on the flexural stiffness of RC beams strengthened with same quantity of CFRP laminates before tension rebar yielding. However, side-bonded CFRP laminates can affect crack width and crack pattern of the strengthened beams, and the pre-crack stage of RC beam by sidebonded CFRP laminates extended remarkably. 3) different to soffit-bonded CFRP laminates RC beams, side-bonded CFRP laminates cannot improve the first yielding and the ultimate load bearing capacity of RC beams.