Analytical model to evaluate failure behavior of plated reinforced concrete beams strengthened for shear

This paper presents a rational and systematic approach to predict the shear capacity of reinforced concrete beams strengthened by bonded external plates. The shear behavior of strengthened beams is modeled by the truss analogy method, in conjunction with the theory of plasticity. Compared to other current truss models, this proposed model considers also those failure modes influenced by bond slip, that is, the debonding phenomenon. The model has been validated against a large number of tests reported from different sources and representing a wide range of test geometries and structural variables. It is shown that this model can predict the test results consistently and satisfactorily with a coefficient of variation of approximately 15%. The predicted results of the model are then compared with those obtained from three other existing models, and it is shown that the model proposed in this paper gives a much better correlation with test data than the other models.