Developing an anchored CFRP reinforcement for efficiently and readily strengthening reinforced concrete structures

Abstract

Externally bonded (EB) CFRP laminates and near-surface mounted (NSM) CFRP reinforcements are two major methods in use of CFRP material for shear and flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Relying exclusively on CFRP-concrete bond, however, both methods cannot ensure the tensile strength of CFRP material to be fully developed, greatly limiting their efficiencies and applications. Although anchored EB CFRP laminates were able to make fuller use of CFRP material, the complicated installations might compromise their merits in strengthening RC structures. This study presents an efficiently and readily strengthening method, i.e. the anchored CFRP reinforcement. Experimental results suggested this proposed method was able to fully develop the tensile strength of CFRP reinforcement by using a much simpler installation. Results also demonstrated the impacts of patch arrangement, embedment depth and reinforcement section on the anchored CFRP reinforcement. By using those valuable experimental data, this efficient and simple method was expected to be well designed for strengthening RC structures.