A Simplified Model for Crack Width Prediction of Flexural-Strengthened High Pre-Damaged Beams with CFRP Sheet

Abstract

Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) is extensively applied in the field of maintenance and reinforcement. In the actual reinforcement of concrete structures, most reinforced concrete (RC) members are in a cracked state and the existing calculation methods seldom consider the initial damage of concrete, especially the effect of severe damage on the crack of RC members. Therefore, it is necessary to propose a model for accurately evaluating the crack width of the repaired different damage state concrete members with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) sheet. This study presents an experimental investigation on the crack behaviors of the CFRP sheet flexural-strengthened pre-damaged RC beams based on the results of an experimental program involving ten specimens. The influence of the pre-damaged level, reinforcement ratio and CFRP sheet strengthening layer on the crack development, failure characteristics, crack spacing and crack width is analyzed and discussed. Taking into account the influence of the CFRP sheet strengthening layer and pre-damaged level, a formula for predicting the average crack spacing is proposed, and then an analytical model for the crack width prediction of the flexural-strengthened high pre-damaged beams is established based on the calculation model of the crack width of the ordinary RC beams. The predicted results agree well with test values including data of this study and experimental data of 64 sets of references.