Experimental and numerical study of distinct techniques to strengthen beams failing in bending under monotonic loading

With the purpose of study three distinct techniques to strengthen beams failing in bending under monotonic loading, an experimental program was carried out. Three techniques are analyzed: Externally Bonded Reinforcement (EBR), Near-Surface Mounted (NSM) and Mechanically Fastened and Externally Bonded Reinforcement (MF-EBR). Unidirectional CFRP laminates were used for the case of the EBR and NSM techniques, whereas multi-directional CFRP laminates were used with the MF-EBR system. In this work the tests are described in detail, and the obtained results are presented and discussed. Numerical simulations of the tests are presented to evaluate the ability of current FEM tools in the simulation of these strengthening techniques