Flexural Behavior of Near Surface Mounted CFRP Bars Strengthened Reinforced Concrete Beams

In recent decades, use of fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) materials has become very popular for strengthening / re-strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. This includes flexural and shear strengthening of RC structural members such as slabs, beams and columns. In this study, a computerized analytical model is presented to predict the load-deflection response of flexure critical RC beams externally strengthened with near surface mounted (NSM) CFRP laminates. The analyical model utilizes constitutive material properties of concrete, reinforcing steel, CFRP laminate materials, strain compatibility, sectional analysis to develop moment-curvature relationships, which then are used to generate the load-rotations and load-deflection of the flexure critical RC Beams strengthend with NSM CFRP laminates. For validation of the analytical model, the predictions of the analytical model are compared with the experimental results of flexure critical RC beams strengthened with NSM CFRP laminates and the comparisons are judged to be good. As a part of the experimental investigation of this study, a series of 18 full scale beams Reinforced Concrete Beams strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates will be tested in flexure and shear. The results of flexural tests will be analyzed and compared with the predictions of the analytical model.