Improving bond behaviour in CFRP on RC beams

The Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composite (CFRP) sheets are documented as the optimal material for external strengthening of reinforced concrete structures. The CFRP composites act with the concrete and assist to sustain the loads. However, the premature failure of reinforced concrete retrofitted by fibre reinforced composite, particularly the end debonding failure, is the main issue to be addressed. To render this strengthening technique as reliable and to ensure strength improvement, an effective method is essential to prevent debonding. A reliable mathematical model is required to predict the overlay behaviour and strength. The Aim of this research is to overcome the premature failure of RC beams retrofitted with externally bonded CFRP composites, looking at the structural integrity of the composite section theoretically and experimentally using numerical analysis methods and observations from the lab scale tests