An analytical study on the bond behaviour between an externally bonded FRP and concrete in the case of continuous beams

One of the greatest challenges in structural engineering nowadays is the strengthening, upgrading, and retrofitting of existing structures. The use of fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) bonded to the tension face of a structural member is an attractive technique in this field of application. The strengthening of reinforced concrete structures by means of an externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) is achieved by gluing a FRP laminate to the concrete substrate. For an efficient utilization of the FRP EBR systems, an effective stress transfer is required between the FRP and concrete. The paper discusses the bond behaviour between a FRP and concrete in the case of flexural strengthening of continuous beams. With respect to this type of beams, only a few studies have been reported, though continuous members often occur in concrete constructions. The structural behaviour of statically indeterminate elements is typically characterized by redistributions of the internal forces. These distributions are related to the nonlinear deformations of the beams and has also a distinct influence on the bond behaviour between the FRP and concrete.