Seismic Behavior of RC Shear Walls with Externally Bonded FRP Sheets: Analytical Studies

Abstract

An analysis model for the nonlinear response behavior of RC shear walls repaired and strengthened in flexure with externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets using the FEM is presented. A novel component of the research reported in this paper is the implementation of a computationally simple procedure to account for the debonding between the FRP and concrete substrate due to the opening of flexural cracks in the shear walls, also termed the intermediate crack (IC) debonding mechanism or IC debonding. In previous analytical research of shear walls reinforced with FRP tow sheets, IC debonding has not been taken into account. The analysis model developed in the research reported in this paper has been validated using experimental results of shear walls repaired/strengthened with FRP sheets available in the literature. Neglecting the influence of IC debonding produces significant overestimations of the load-carrying capacity of the walls and an overall poor correlation between the analytical and experimental hysteretic nonlinear response behavior. Including IC debonding effects, a close agreement between calculated and measured results for key structural response parameters is obtained.