SHEAR PERFORMANCE OF RC MEMBERS STRENGTHENED WITH EXTERNALLY BONDED FRP WRAPS

SUMMARY This study presents the shear performance and the modes of failure of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) wraps. The experimental program consisted of testing twenty-seven, full-scale, RC beams. The variables investigated in this research study included steel stirrups (i.e., beams with and without steel stirrups), shear span-to depth ratio (i.e., a/d ratio 3 versus 4), CFRP amount and distribution (i.e., continuous wrap versus strips), bonded surface (i.e., lateral sides versus U-wrap), fiber orientation (i.e., 90 0 /0 0 fiber combination versus 90 0 direction), and end anchor (i.e., U-wrap with and without end anchor). As part of the research program, the experimental study examined the effectiveness of CFRP reinforcement in enhancing the shear capacity of RC beams in negative and positive moment regions, and for beams with rectangular and T-cross section. The experimental results indicated that the contribution of externally bonded CFRP to the shear capacity is significant and dependent upon the variable investigated.