Interfacial Bond Strength Characteristics of FRP and RC Substrate

Abstract

This study focuses on the development of a fracture-mechanics-based model that predicts the debonding behavior of RC beams strengthened with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP). In this study, the existing debonding models based on fracture mechanics are reviewed. Since no approach exists that can exactly predict the failure mode, an extensive database that contains different beam debonding failure modes was prepared. This database includes 351 concrete prisms bonded with FRP plates tested in single and double shear. The existing fracture-mechanics-based models were applied to this database. The new proposed model was based on newly conducted carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP)-to-concrete single shear tests and data were collected from two independent studies. A comparison between the experimental and the analytical results showed that the model predicts the bond strength accurately.