Interfacial debonding failure for reinforced concrete beams strengthened with carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer strips
Rehabilitation of structures using fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) has become a preferred strengthening technique. Crack-induced debonding failure has been repeatedly recorded when using fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates to strengthen reinforced concrete (RC) beams and (or) slabs in flexure. A testing programme has been performed to determine the effect of the concrete compressive strength and the amount of shear reinforcement on the interfacial debonding. The ultimate strain at failure in the bonded laminates (usage efficiency) and the strain compatibility between the laminates and the concrete sections have been investigated. The current design methods for reinforced concrete members strengthened with FRP do not explicitly consider the interfacial debonding failure; using the results of the experimental programme, the applicability and limitations of these design methods are identified. New design procedures are proposed and compared with the experimental programme results and the currently adopted procedures.