Bond Behavior of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bars under Direct Pullout Conditions

This paper examines the behavior of Eurocrete fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars (glass, carbon, aramid, and hybrid) in concrete under direct pullout conditions. More than 130 cube specimens were tested in direct pullout where no splitting was allowed to develop. In normal concrete, the mode of bond failure of FRP bars was found to differ substantially from that of deformed steel bars because of damage to the resin rich surface of the bar when pullout takes place. Bond strengths developed by carbon fiber-reinforced polymer and glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars appear to be very similar and just below what is expected from deformed steel bars under similar experimental conditions. The load slip curves highlight some of the fundamental differences between steel and FRP materials. This paper reports in detail on the influence of various parameters that affect bond strength and development such as the embedment length, type, shape, surface characteristics, and diameter of the bar as well as concrete strength. The testing arrangement is also shown to influence bond strength because of the “wedging effect” of the bars.     

Investigation of Bond in Concrete Structures Strengthened with Near Surface Mounted Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Strips

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials are currently produced in different configurations and are widely used for the strengthening and retrofitting of concrete structures and bridges. Recently, considerable research has been directed to characterize the use of FRP bars and strips as near surface mounted reinforcement, primarily for strengthening applications. Nevertheless, in-depth understanding of the bond mechanism is still a challenging issue. This paper presents both experimental and analytical investigations undertaken to evaluate bond characteristics of near surface mounted carbon FRP (CFRP) strips. A total of nine concrete beams, strengthened with near surface mounted CFRP strips were constructed and tested under monotonic static loading. Different embedment lengths were used to evaluate the development length needed for effective use of near surface mounted CFRP strips. A closed-form analytical solution is proposed to predict the interfacial shear stresses. The model is validated by comparing the predicted values with test results as well as nonlinear finite element modeling. A quantitative criterion governing the debonding failure of near surface mounted CFRP strips is established. The influence of various parameters including internal steel reinforcement ratio, concrete compressive strength, and groove width is discussed.     

Effect of Contact Pressure on Bond Strength of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer to Concrete

In this technical note, the importance of contact pressure (0.03 N/mm2) during curing of adhesive between fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) and concrete is addressed. The shortcoming of fast-curing epoxy resin is pointed out. Different pressures and an ordinary epoxy resin were chosen to assess the effectiveness of contact pressure on FRP-to-concrete bond strength. The test results showed that the bond quality could be significantly improved by exerting a contact pressure ≥ 0.01 N/mm2. A simple and easy site-operation method for exerting contact pressure is also introduced.     

Bond between Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bars and Concrete. I: Experimental Study

The bond characteristics of four different types of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) rebars (or tendons) with different surface deformations embedded in lightweight concrete were analyzed experimentally. In a first series of tests, local bond stress-slip data, as well as bond stress-radial deformation data, needed for interface modeling of the bond mechanics, were obtained for varying levels of confining pressure. In addition to bond stress and slip, radial stress and radial deformation were considered fundamental variables needed to provide for configuration-independent relationships. Each test specimen consisted of a CFRP rebar embedded in a 76-mm-(3 in.)-diam, 102-mm-(4 in.)-long, precracked lightweight concrete cylinder subjected to a constant level of pressure on the outer surface. Only 76 mm (3 in.) of contact were allowed between the rebar and the concrete. For each rebar type, bond stress-slip and bond stress-radial deformation relationships were obtained for four levels of confining axisymmetric radial pressure. It was found that small surface indentations were sufficient to yield bond strengths comparable to that of steel bars. It was also shown that radial pressure is an important parameter that can increase the bond strength almost threefold for the range studied. In a second series of tests, the rebars were pulled out from 152-mm-(6 in.)-diam, 610-mm-(24 in.)-long lightweight concrete specimens. These tests were conduced to provide preliminary data for development length assessment and model validation (Part II).     

Bond Strength of Tension Lap Splices in High-Strength Concrete Beams Strengthened with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Wraps

This paper presents the experimental results of the first phase of a study undertaken at the American University of Beirut to examine the effectiveness of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) wraps to confine steel reinforcement in a tension lap splice region anchored in high-strength reinforced-concrete beams. Seven beam specimens were constructed. The specimens were reinforced on the tension side with three deformed bars spliced at midspan. The splice region was devoid of any transverse reinforcement to allow a full examination of the FRP wrap contribution. Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) sheets were used. The main test variables were the GFRP configuration in the splice region (one strip, two strips, or a continuous strip), and the number of layers of the GFRP wraps placed around the splice region (one layer or two layers). All GFRP wraps were U-shaped. Except for the epoxy adhesive, no other anchorage mechanism or bonding procedure was applied for the GFRP wraps on the concrete beam. Following the application of the GFRP wraps, the beams were tested in positive bending. The test results demonstrated that GFRP wraps were effective in enhancing the bond strength and ductility of failure mode of the tension lap splices, especially when continuous strips were applied over the splice region.     

Realistic Bond Strength of FRP Rebars in NSC from Beam Specimens

The bond strength of reinforcing bars in concrete is a prerequisite for the evaluation of the development length in reinforced concrete structures. This study concerns these phenomena for fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) rebars in normal strength concrete (NSC). Three different types of rebars were tested using the beam specimen: Carbon, glass, and steel. This involved a total of 26 beam specimens containing 10, 16, and 19?mm rebars. The test embedment lengths were 10, 15, and 20 times the rebar diameter (db). For each rebar tested, the results concern load deflection curves, bond stress-slip responses, and the mode of failure. The results showed that the bond strength of a FRP rebar is, generally, lower than that of steel rebar. Based on this and previous research, proposals for the average bond strength and for the development length of straight FRP rebars under tension in NSC are made.     

Bond between Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bars and Concrete. II: Computational Modeling

Computational modeling of the behavior of concrete reinforced with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars requires models for the constitutive behavior of concrete and FRP and a model for their interaction, bond. This study focuses upon the application of an elastoplastic bond model to represent the behavior of the type A bar experimentally examined in Part I. By fully coupling the tangent and radial response, the model is sensitive to the stress state around the bar and can induce longitudinal cracking in the adjacent concrete. The model is calibrated and then applied to predict the splitting behavior of two types of specimens. Though the two specimens differ significantly, the estimated splitting loads fall within the experimental scatter. The model is then used to obtain preliminary design data for the needed cover thickness, development length, and transfer lengths. Computational models, when calibrated with limited experimental data, allow the behavior of several different specimens to be estimated. This approach is an effective means of obtaining preliminary design data and of planning further experimental verification.     

Bond Between Near-Surface Mounted Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Laminate Strips and Concrete

In recent years, a strengthening technique based on near-surface mounted (NSM) laminate strips of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) has been used to increase the load-carrying capacity of concrete and masonry structures by introducing laminate strips into precut grooves on the concrete cover of the elements to be strengthened. The high experimentally derived levels of strength efficacy with concrete columns, beams, and masonry panels have presented NSM as a viable and promising technique. This practice requires no surface preparation work and, after cutting the groove, requires minimal installation time compared to the externally bonded reinforcing technique. A further advantage associated with NSM CFRP is its ability to significantly reduce the probability of harm resulting from fire, acts of vandalism, mechanical damage, and aging effects. To assess the bond behavior of CFRP to concrete, pullout-bending tests have been carried out. The influences of bond length and concrete strength on bond behavior are analyzed, the tests are described, and the results are presented and discussed in detail. Finally, a local stress-slip relationship is determined based on both experimental results and a numerical strategy.     

Physical Properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Rebars in Compression

Forty-five glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars were tested in compression to determine their ultimate strength and Young’s modulus. The rebars (or C-bars), produced by Marshall Industries Composites, Inc., had an outside diameter of 15 mm (#15 rebar), and unbraced lengths varying from 50 to 380 mm. A compression test method was developed to conduct the experiments. Three failure modes, that are directly related to the unbraced length of the rebar, are identified as crushing, buckling, and combined buckling and crushing. The crushing region represents the failure mode a GFRP rebar would experience when confined in concrete under compression. The experimental results showed that the ultimate compressive strength of the #15 GFRP rebar failing by crushing is approximately 50% of the ultimate tensile strength. Based on a very limited number of tests, in which strain readings were acceptable, Young’s modulus in compression was found to be approximately the same as in tension.     

Concrete Contribution to the Shear Resistance of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Reinforced Concrete Members

Seven beams were tested in bending to determine the concrete contribution to their shear resistance. The beams had similar dimensions and concrete strength and were reinforced with carbon fiber reinforced polymer bars for flexure without transverse reinforcement. They were designed to fail in shear rather than flexure. The test variables were the shear span to depth ratio, varying from 1.82 to 4.5, and the flexural reinforcement ratio, varying from 1.1 to 3.88 times the balanced strain ratio. The test results are analyzed and compared with the corresponding predicted values using the American Concrete Institute, the Canadian Standard, and the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCF) fiber reinforced polymer design recommendations. Based on these results and previous experimental data, it is shown that the ACI recommendations are extremely conservative whereas the Canadian and JSCE recommendations, albeit still conservative, are in closer agreement with the experimental data. Overall the Canadian Standard’s predictions are in better agreement with experimental data than the JSCE predictions.     

Evaluation of Bond Strength in Concrete Elements Externally Reinforced with CFRP Sheets and Anchoring Devices

Use of anchoring devices can be useful to avoid or delay end debonding failure in reinforced concrete elements externally bonded with fiber-reinforced plastic materials. Many theoretical formulations are now available to predict bond strength, but no design provisions have been suggested to take into account the beneficial effect of anchorage devices. This paper presents the results of experimental bond tests performed on concrete blocks externally strengthened with carbon fiber sheets. The prime focus is the evaluation of effect given by three different types of anchorage systems upon increasing debonding load. A simple model is introduced to predict the influence of the examined anchorage systems on the debonding load. Its accuracy is confirmed by comparisons with the experimental results.     

Development of the Nonlinear Bond Stress–Slip Model of Fiber Reinforced Plastics Sheet–Concrete Interfaces with a Simple Method

A new analytical method for defining the nonlinear bond stress–slip models of fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) sheet–concrete interfaces through pullout bond test is proposed. With this method, it is not necessary to attach many strain gauges on the FRP sheets for obtaining the strain distributions in FRP as well as the local bond stresses and slips. Instead, the local interfacial bond stress-slip models can be simply derived from the relationships between the pullout forces and loaded end slips. Based on a series of pullout tests, the bond stress–slip models of FRP sheet–concrete interfaces, in which different FRP stiffness, FRP materials (carbon FRP, aramid FRP, and glass FRP), and adhesives are used, have been derived. Only two parameters, the interfacial fracture energy and interfacial ductility index, which can take into account the effects of all interfacial components, are necessary in these models. Comparisons between analytical results and experimental ones show good accordance, indicating the reliability of the proposed method and the proposed bond stress–slip models.     

Design Philosophy Issues of Fiber Reinfored Polymer Reinforced Concrete Structures

The conventional design philosophy for reinforced concrete (RC) relies heavily on the ductile properties of steel. These ductile properties are used as a “fuse” and conceal the large uncertainty in the determination of modes of failure caused directly by concrete. Current design guidelines for fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) RC structures have inappropriately adopted the same design philosophy used for steel RC, leading either to the adoption of conservative safety factors or reduced structural reliability. A reliability-based analysis of FRP RC beams shows that the current, very conservative partial safety factors for FRP reinforcement on their own do not influence the structural safety of overreinforced concrete elements. Proposals are made for the modification of the material partial safety factors to achieve target safety levels.     

Numerical Investigation of Fiber Reinforced Polymers Poststrengthened Concrete Slabs

The present work deals with the numerical simulation of fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) poststrengthened scaled concrete slabs in order to predict their load carrying behavior. The used strengthening materials are FRPs which are of increasing interest in civil engineering applications such as textile reinforced concrete tubes, cables of cable-stayed bridges, or even entire bridges. The numerical results are compared with experiments which were conducted at the Univ. of California, San Diego, and are described in detail by H?rmann in 1997; H?rmann et al. in 1998; and later by Seim et al. in 2001. The slabs are modeled for the numerical simulation first in a two-dimensional design space, assuming a plane stress condition for the concrete and the fiber reinforced polymer, and second in a three-dimensional design space with multilayered shell elements in order to include the varying response across the depth of the slabs. The used material model for reinforced concrete was developed by Menrath et al. in 1998 and has been enhanced for multilayered shell elements by Haufe et al. in 1999. It is based on multisurface plasticity, consisting of two Drucker–Prager yield surfaces and a spherical cap, and exhibits fracture energy based evolution laws for the softening regime. The reinforcement is taken into account as additional stress contribution in a smeared manner using a one-dimensional constitutive law based on an elastoplastic isotropic hardening model.     

Effect of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Confinement on Bond Strength of Reinforcement in Beam Anchorage Specimens

This paper reports on the fourth phase of a multiphase study undertaken at the American University of Beirut (AUB) to examine the effect of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets in confining bond-critical regions in reinforced concrete beams. Results of the first three phases showed that glass- and carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP and CFRP) sheets were effective in increasing the bond strength and improving the ductility of the mode of failure of tension lap splices in high-strength concrete (HSC) and normal-strength concrete (NSC) beams. The main objective of the fourth phase of the AUB study was to assess the effect of CFRP sheets in improving the serviceability and ultimate response of beam anchorage specimens. The added experimental data and the improved knowledge of the bond behavior of FRP confined concrete members will encourage the use of FRP technology to strengthen and retrofit bond anchorage zones. Ten beam anchorage specimens were tested in positive bending in two series. The variables were bar size, anchorage length, and concrete strength. For each bar size, anchorage length, and concrete strength, two companion specimens—identical except for whether the anchorage zone was wrapped with FRP sheets or not wrapped—were tested. The test results demonstrated that CFRP sheets were effective in enhancing the bond strength and ductility of anchorage zones in beam anchorage specimens where splitting failures were imminent.     

Prediction Models for Debonding Failure Loads of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Retrofitted Reinforced Concrete Beams

This study focuses on debonding failure in reinforced concrete beams with carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite bonded on the soffit using the wet lay-up method. An experimental study, which involved 26 tests, was carried out. The experiments showed two failure modes: Intermediate span debond and end debond. The first failure is the result of the high bond stress near the tip of a flexure-shear crack, whereas the second type of failure is due to the high shear stress developed in the weakest concrete layer at the tension reinforcement level. The experiments have shown that U-straps can be effective in preventing intermediate span and end debond. Based on experimental observations, two simple and practical theoretical models were developed and verified with the experimental data, together with a large database of other existing tests.     

Behavior of Gravity Load-Designed Rectangular Concrete Columns Confined with Fiber Reinforced Polymer Sheets

This study concentrates on analytical evaluation of the effect of external confinement using fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) sheets on the response of concrete rectangular columns designed for gravity load only and having spliced longitudinal reinforcement at the column base. A general analytical scheme for evaluating the strength capacity and ductility of the columns under combined flexural–axial loads was developed. The analysis takes into account the bond strength degradation of the spliced reinforcement with increase in lateral load by incorporating a generalized bond stress–slip law, and considers the effect of FRP confinement on the stress–strain response of concrete material. Particular emphasis is placed in the analysis on the slip response of the spliced bars and the consequent fixed end rotation that develops at the column base. Results predicted by the analysis showed very good agreement with limited experimental data. A parametric evaluation was carried out to evaluate the effect of different design and strength parameters on the column response under lateral load. Without confinement, the columns suffered premature bond failure and, consequently, low flexural strength capacity. Confining the concrete in the columns end zone at the splice location with FRP sheets enhanced the bond strength capacity of the spliced reinforcement, increased the steel stress that can be mobilized before bond failure occurs, and consequently improved the flexural strength capacity and ductility of the columns. A general design equation, expressed as a function of the main parameters that influence the bond strength capacity between spliced steel bars and FRP confined concrete, is proposed to calculate the area of FRP sheets needed for strengthening of the subject columns.     

Reinforced Concrete T-Beams Strengthened in Shear with Fiber Reinforced Polymer Sheets

This research studies the interaction of concrete, steel stirrups, and external fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets in carrying shear loads in reinforced concrete beams. A total of eight tests were conducted on four laboratory-controlled concrete T-beams. The beams were subjected to a four-point loading. Each end of each beam was tested separately. Three types of FRP, uniaxial glass fiber, uniaxial carbon fiber, and triaxial glass fiber, were applied externally to strengthen the web of the T-beams, while some ends were left without FRP. The test results show that FRP reinforcement increases the maximum shear strengths between 15.4 and 42.2% over beams with no FRP. The magnitude of the increased shear capacity is dependent not only on the type of FRP but also on the amount of internal shear reinforcement. The triaxial glass fiber reinforced beam exhibited more ductile failure than the other FRP reinforced beams. This paper also presents a test model that is based on a rational mechanism and can predict the experimental results with excellent accuracy.     

Behavior of Bond-Critical Regions Wrapped with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Sheets in Normal and High-Strength Concrete

This paper reports on the third phase of a multiphase study undertaken at the American University of Beirut (AUB) to examine the effect of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets in confining tension lap splice regions in reinforced concrete beams. Results of the first two phases showed that glass and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP and CFRP) sheets were effective in increasing the bond strength and improving the ductility of the mode of failure of tension lap splices in high-strength concrete (HSC) beams with nominal concrete strength of 70 MPa. The experimental results of the two phases were used to propose a new FRP confinement parameter, Ktr,f, that accounts for the bond strength contribution of FRP sheets wrapping tension lap splice regions in HSC beams. In this third phase of the AUB study, the trend of the results of phases 1 and 2 and the validity of the analytical model proposed were verified if normal-strength concrete (NSC) is used instead of HSC. Seven beams with nominal concrete strength of 27.58 MPa (4 ksi) were tested in positive bending. Each beam was designed with a tension lap splice in a constant moment region in the midspan of the beam. The main test variables were the configuration (1 strip, 2 strips, or a continuous strip) and the number of layers (1 layer or 2 layers) of the CFRP sheets wrapping the splice region. The test results demonstrated that CFRP sheets were effective in enhancing the bond strength and ductility of failure mode of tension lap splices in NSC in a very similar way to HSC. In addition, the FRP confinement index proposed earlier for HSC was proven to be valid in the case of NSC.     

Fiber Reinforced Polymer Shear Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Beams with Transverse Steel Reinforcement

The paper aims to contribute to a better understanding and modeling of the shear behavior of reinforced-concrete (RC) beams strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets. The study is based on an experimental program carried out on 11 beams with and without transverse steel reinforcement, and with different amounts of FRP shear strengthening. The test results provide some new insights into the complex failure mechanisms that characterize the ultimate shear capacity of RC members with transverse steel reinforcement and FRP sheets. After the discussion of the above topics, a new upper bound of the shear strength is introduced. It should be capable of taking into account how the cracking pattern in the web failing under shear is modified by the presence of FRP sheets, and how such a modified cracking pattern actually modifies the anchorage conditions of the sheets and their effective contribution to the ultimate shear strength of the beams.