The effect of CFRP-concrete bond mechanism on dynamic parameters of repaired concrete girders

An understanding of the mechanism of concrete girders repaired with CFRP plates and its influence on the dynamic parameters is presented in this paper. Dynamic parameters are governed by the relationship with the physical properties of concrete girders and CFRP plates as well as the adhesive layer between them. A brief explanation of the mechanism of the composite action of concrete girders repaired with CFRP is also given in this paper. Experimental work was carried out to validate the theory of the composite action. The results show a decrease in the modal parameters of CFRP repaired girders that were turned over during the repair procedure, which contrasts with the proven static-based results that CFRP plates increase the stiffness of repaired girders. The composite action theory has explained the results based on the tension and compression forces??? growth at the adhesive layer between the CFRP plates and girder surface during the repair procedure. Other girders were prepared and repaired without turning over in order to avoid tension and compression forces at the adhesive layer. The experimental results show an increase in the dynamic parameters of CFRP repaired girders that were not turned over during the repair procedure, which aligns with the static-based results. The study concludes that the dynamic parameters are excellent indicators for the assessment of CFRP repaired concrete girders. The study also suggests that researchers should not turn over damaged concrete girders to repair them with CFRP plates if they intend to study the dynamic parameters, in order to avoid the proposed composite action effect on modal parameters.