Evaluating the behavior and bond properties of FRP spike anchors under confined conditions and elevated temperature

Abstract

The use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) anchors in combination with the conventional externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) installation technique is an effective method to prevent or postpone the debonding of FRP sheets. However, their behavior under confined conditions and elevated temperatures is still unknown. In such a framework, in the first phase, the current research aims to assess pullout test results for single FRP anchors with dowels ranging from 50 to 75 mm in confined and unconfined conditions. To achieve this goal, three concrete slabs with the dimension of 1550 × 1250 × 250 mm3 were cast. Experimental results showed that the bond strength of FRP anchors in confined conditions increased by about 50% compared to the unconfined conditions. Additionally, a comparison was made between the experimental results and the literature models. In the second phase, eleven pullout tests were conducted on the cylindrical specimens with the dimension of 150 × 200 mm2 (diameter × height) under confined conditions and elevated temperatures by considering different sustained load levels.The results showed as the temperature increases and FRP anchor is constantly loaded, it fails in a shorter time before the adhesive reaches its glass transition. Finally, a bond strength vs. temperature model was developed for FRP anchors in confined conditions and high temperatures.