Fatigue performance of CFRP reinforced pretensioned prestressed beams

Abstract

This study presents an experimental investigation on the fatigue performance of CFRP reinforced pretensioned prestressed beams. A total of 10 specimens were designed and tested under monotonic or fatigue conditions. The investigated variables included the prestressing level, fatigue load range, and the absence or presence of novel additional aluminum alloy ribs (ARs) anchorage. Specimens using a high prestressing level or subjected to a low fatigue load range would have a reduced deflection and crack width development compared to those in their counterparts. In addition, the fatigue loading was found to cause cumulative bond damage of pretensioned FRP bar to concrete and finally led to an uncontrollable slippage failure of the beam. Such bond issue was demonstrated to have been avoided by using the ARs anchorage at beam ends. The applicability of three theoretical models proposed for steel reinforced beams to predicting the deflection of CFRP reinforced pretensioned prestressed beams under fatigue loading were evaluated, and CEB-FIP model was found to be the most suitable one to describe the deflection development of the tested specimens.