Aspects of bond behavior for concrete beam strengthened with carbon fibers reinforced polymers–near surface mounted

Abstract

The near surface mounted technique has been used in recent years for the strengthening of reinforced concrete beams. It involves the insertion of strips or rods of carbon fibers reinforced polymers in grooves made previously in the concrete cover of corresponding surfaces, filled with epoxy adhesive for fixation. A parametric study was carried out based on pullout-bending tests in order to evaluate the influence of bond strength, concrete strength, bond length, type and configuration of strengthening on the pullout load, bonding stress, stiffness and failure mode. The influences of these parameters on the bond behavior between the three materials (concrete, epoxy adhesive and carbon fibers reinforced polymer) were evidenced and discussed.