Discussion of "Fatigue behavior of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced plastic laminates" by P J. Heffernan and M. A. Erki

The fatigue behavior of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates was presented by P.J. Heffernan. It was concluded that the fatigue life of all the beams, with or without CFRP strengthening, is largely dependent on the stress range applied to the steel reinforcement. The finding supported the theory put forward by Barnes and Mays in 1999 that the criteria for the fatigue design of CFRP plated beams should be to limit the stress range in the rebars to the permitted in an unplated beam.