Experimental Study of RC Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets Under Sustaining Loads

Seven reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened in flexure using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets subjected to different sustaining loads were tested. The effects of initial load and load history on the ultimate strength of strengthened RC beams were examined by externally bonded CFRP sheets. The main experimental parameters included different levels of sustaining load at the time of strengthening, and load history. Experimental results show that sustaining load levels at the time of strengthening have important influences on the ultimate strength of strengthened RC beams. If the initial load is the same, the ultimate strength of RC beams strengthened with CFRP sheets is almost the same regardless of load history at the time of strengthening.