Experimental and analytical investigation of CFRP flexural and shear strengthening efficiencies of RC beams

This paper studies the CFRP flexure and shear strengthening efficiencies of concrete beams. Half-scale beams, with different flexure and shear internal steel ratios, were tested in three-point bending. Flexure or shear-critical beams were provided with CFRP longitudinal sheets or U-wraps, respectively. Flexure-shear-critical beams were provided with shear or combined systems. At high flexural damage, 38.3% reduction in shear strengthening efficiency was noted at higher ductility, while the flexural strengthening efficiency reduced by 65.7% at high shear damage, both from capacity perspectives. The U-wraps were 22% activated, while full sheet activation occurred and reduced by dowel rupture by 30.8% at high shear damage. While single failures were accurately predicted by ACI 318M-05 and ACI 440.2R-08, combined ones were not. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.