Mechanical analysis of a cracked beam reinforced with an external FRP plate

A theoretical method to predict the loading capacity of a cracked FRP reinforced concrete flexural beam is developed. The beam subjected to three-point bending is externally reinforced with unidirectional FRP plate near the bottom surface of the tensile zone. No slip between the FRP plate and plain concrete is assumed. A fictitious crack approach which has been used previously in conjunction with finite element method in the fracture analysis of concrete is adopted here to estimate the equivalent bridge effect of the fracture process zone of concrete. The predicted results of loading capacities are then shown graphically. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.