The Effectiveness of CFRP Ropes to Anchor FRP Shear-Strengthened RC T-Beams with Continuous Sheets

This study investigates the effect of CFRP ropes to anchor FRP shear-strengthened beams with U-wrap continuous sheets. The experimental program includes seven identical simply supported reinforced concrete T-beams tested under three-point loading. The steel stirrups are spaced at 220 mm along a shear span of 880 mm The beams are divided into two groups based on the anchorage technique used. Group A represents FRP shear-strengthened beams with single, double and triple layers of U-wrap sheets and anchored using CFRP ropes. Group B includes specimens with single layer of CFRP sheets and anchored using the NSM, FRP extension, and horizontal FRP anchorage techniques. The experimental program tested a strengthened beam with no anchorage (EB) as a benchmark. The results of the experimental tests are presented in terms of ultimate load-carrying capacities, failure modes, and load-deflection relationships. The applied load versus strain relationships for the steel stirrups, and CFRP sheets are also investigated. The experimental results showed that the FRP rope anchorage technique is a promising solution to enhance the FRP shear contribution.