This study numerically investigates the long-term effectiveness of using externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) plates as a strengthening technique for reinforced concrete (RC) beams. A two-dimensional finite element model (FEM) that can accurately predict the flexural behavior of FRP strengthened RC beams, is developed. Weathering exposure time of 0.0, 15.5, 35, and 75 years were considered. In total, 28 different concrete beams were modelled using the developed FEM. The results show that prolonged exposure to natural weathering can cause premature FRP debonding, even before reaching the yielding load. The ultimate load capacity, midspan deflection, and ductility of strengthened RC beams can be reduced by up to 38%, 62%, and 100%, respectively. In addition, the findings raised concerns about the applicability of the ACI 440.2R-17 provisions for calculating the design flexural strength of FRP strengthened RC beams with prolonged exposure to natural weathering. To ensure a safe design for strengthened beams with FRP debonding or concrete crushing failure modes, this paper recommends an additional reduction factor ranging from 0.8 to 0.9. Furthermore, periodic inspection using non-destructive testing and FRP anchorage system are highly recommended for both existing and new applications of FRP in structures.

Mehdi Khorasani, Giovanni Muciaccia, and Davood Mostofinejad Synopsis: The externally bonded reinforcement on grooves (EBROG) technique has been recently shown to outperform its rival techniques of surface preparation (such as externally bonded reinforcement, EBR) employed to delay the undesirably premature debonding of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) from the concrete substrate in retrofitted structure. However, the behavior of EBROG method under fatigue loading has not been assessed yet, and the present study is the first attempt to achieve the above aim. For this purpose, an experimental program is conducted in which 16 CFRP-to-concrete bonded joints on the concrete slab prepared through the EBROG and EBR techniques are subjected to the single lap-shear test and fatigue cyclic loading. Furthermore, the bond behavior of CFRP strips-to-concrete substrate is investigated in this research in terms of the load capacity, slip, debonding mechanism, and fatigue life. The results showed that the grooving method improved the bond properties of CFRP-to-concrete joints under fatigue loading. By using this alternative technique, the number of cycles until failure (fatigue life) increases incredibly under the same fatigue cycle loading and the service life of strengthened members could be improved under fatigue loading. Furthermore, the effects of different loading levels on the behavior of CFRP-concrete joints installed by EBROG method are evaluated. The results showed that fatigue life of strengthened specimens decreases by increasing fatigue upper load limit. Finally, a new predictive equation was developed based on plotting the maximum applied fatigue load versus fatigue life curves for CFRP-to-concrete bonded joints for the EBROG method.

Serviceability checks in Reinforced Concrete (RC) elements involves the verification of crack width mainly aimed to limit the exposure of the steel reinforcement to corrosion and chemical attack and, thus, improve durability. Classical approaches for assessing the crack width in RC elements provide the calculation of two terms: 1) the average crack spacing, and 2) the average difference between the strain in the steel reinforcement and in the concrete in tension referred to the average crack spacing. A similar approach can be assumed valid also for RC elements strengthened with externally bonded Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials, taking into account the additional tension stiffening effect provided by the external reinforcement.

This paper presents the comparisons of some existing code formulations for predicting crack spacing and crack width in RC elements with the experimental results of a database collected by the Authors and concerning tests on RC beams and ties externally bonded with different types and configurations of FRP materials. The paper is mainly aimed to check the reliability of the existing equations provided by codes in order to address the future assessment of reliable design provisions for cracking verifications in RC elements strengthened with FRP materials. The comparisons have evidenced, indeed, some useful issues for the design provisions: 1) larger scatter in the predictions of crack width than in crack spacing and, in particular, for ties, 2) limited effect of shrinkage on crack width, 3) necessity of taking into account the external reinforcement in crack spacing formulations, 4) good reliability of mechanical models for calculating cracks width.

GFRP bars are considered an alternative to steel for concrete reinforcement. This project investigated the fatigue behavior of GFRP bars embedded in concrete, studying bond behavior at material and structural scales. GFRP bars (12 mm [0.47 in.] nominal diameter) were embedded in concrete cylinders leaving a 50 mm [2 in.] protrusion at the free end and featuring different bonded lengths. Two types of GFRP bars with different surface treatment (lacquered and unlacquered) were used. Static tests were used to determine the bonded length required for cyclic pull-out tests, Cyclic tests at 1.5 Hz showed GFRP bar failure was possible at just 20% of their reduced tensile strength (0.8ffu) as prescribed in ACI 440.1R-15. Two full-scale slabs internally reinforced with unlacquered GFRP bars were tested using a four-point bending configuration. A quasi-static test was used as a control to determine the fatigue amplitude, considering the fatigue loading provided by the ACI 440.1R-15 document and the pull-out test results with cyclic loading presented in this work. Cyclic load between 10 kN [2.25 kips] and 40 kN [9 kips] at a 1.5 Hz frequency was applied up to 5 million cycles before a subsequent quasi-static test was conducted. The load range was determined using cross-section analysis to cycle the bars between 5% and 20% of their reduced tensile strength (0.8ffu). Both slabs ultimately failed due to shear failure, with cyclic loading having little impact on the slab compliance. Displacements of the load points and supports were measured using linear variable displacement transformers (LVDTs), while digital image correlation (DIC) was utilized to obtain the full-field displacement and strain in the central region of the slab. The strain and displacement fields from DIC were used to determine the opening of flexural cracks and relate it to the stress level in the GFRP bars. A comparison between the static pull-out tests and the four-point bending tests of slabs indicated that the pull-out test could be used to describe the flexural behavior of the slab at low stress level. However, in terms of fatigue behavior, the comparison between the small- and large-scale tests indicated that the fatigue phenomenon in the slab was quite complex and could not be directly described by the results of pull-out tests.

A systematic literature review was conducted on pure tension strengthening of concrete structures using fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), specifically for larger FRP tie applications. This work yielded a dataset of 1,627 direct tension tests, and highlighted the limitation of existing studies on studying thick and long FRP ties, which are typical in real construction scenarios. To overcome this shortcoming, 51 single lap shear tests were conducted on thicker and longer FRP ties, with the dimensions being 0.5 to 6 mm [0.02 to 0.24 in.] thickness, and 300 to 1,524 mm [12 to 60 in.] long. The critical parameters under consideration were concrete compressive strength, FRP thickness, and bond length. The findings demonstrate that thicker and therefore stiffer FRP ties have higher debond force capacity, while longer ties exhibit greater post-elastic deformation capacity but do not affect the debond force capacity. Concrete had a limited effect on either debond force or deformation capacity. A strength model is proposed for FRP systems under axial pure tension, which aligns well with both the published and tested results. This paper focuses on the development of design guidelines and codes to predict the debond strain for EB-FRP systems incorporating thicker and longer FRP ties, aiming to enhance the applicability of FRP to real-world construction scenarios.