Anchorage systems in FRP - strengthened reinforced concrete

The main aim of this article was to present recently evolved methods of strengthening flexural reinforced concrete beams, as well as the concreteanchorage system bond strength problems in composites that were either surface mounted or inserted in the pre-cut grooves in the concrete cover. The focus is on the beams strengthened with the carbon FRP (CFRP - carbon fiber reinforced polymer) composites to show the basic advantages and drawbacks associated with their installation and bond performance. Domestic and foreign experiments investigating the EBR and NSMR strengthening systems were discussed to show their efficacy, common failure modes and the factors initiating the debonding process. Debonding problems and solutions to those problems were illustrated using the example of a composite material attached to the outer surface of concrete in the shear zone of reinforced concrete beams The article provides guidelines for checking the anchorage capacity for the existing longitudinal reinforcement with the simultaneous action of bending moment and shear force in the support zone of the reinforced concrete beam