Static and Fatigue Behavior of Multitendon CFRP Cables with Integrated Anchorages

Abstract

This paper presents a high-capacity anchorage system for multitendon carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) cables and the associated construction technology. Four groups of cable anchorage systems used 37 CFRP tendons, each with a diameter of 4 mm, and extensively investigated their behavior through static and fatigue tests. In the static test, the synchronous performance of the cables was studied. The mechanical properties of the cables in the anchor zone were compared with the results from a finite-element (FE) analysis, and the anchoring efficiency also was evaluated. Furthermore, the fatigue behavior of cable anchorage system was verified. The relative displacement of each component, distribution of the shear stress, retention rate of the stiffness, and strength of the cables were discussed. The results indicate that the cable exhibits excellent synchronous tensile performance. The stress and displacement distributions of the cable in the anchor zone were in good agreement with the results from the FE analysis. The stress concentration was greatly reduced by the variable stiffness of the load transfer medium via layered casting technology, and the anchoring efficiency reached 97%. The cable anchorage system sustained 2 million cycles without any macroscopic cracks forming in either the cable or anchorage at a maximum stress of 0.45fs (the standard strength value) and a stress range of 200 MPa. The residual strength and stiffness of the cable reached 95% and 96%, respectively, compared with the initial behavior.