Use of Anchors in Shear Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete T-Beams with FRP

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the effectiveness of various types of spike anchors in combination with U-shaped fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) jackets for shear strengthening of reinforced concrete T-beams. The parameters examined include the orientation, the number and spacing of anchors, and the role of carbon versus glass fibers in the anchors. It is concluded that anchors placed inside the slab are many times more effective than those placed horizontally inside the web, and anchors of similar geometrical characteristics (e.g., embedment length) display similar effectiveness despite the difference in fiber type.