Flexural Behavior of RC beams Strengthened with Externally Bonded Prestressed CFRP Strips

외부 부착형 프리스트레스트 탄소섬유판으로 보강된 RC보의 휨 거동

Experimental study has been performed in order to investigate the behavior of RC beams strengthened with externally bonded prestressed CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) strips. A total of 7 specimens have been manufactured of which specimens strengthened with bonded CFRP strips considering the level of prestress as experimental variable, and a specimen with simply bonded CFRP strips. The following phenomena have been observed through the experimental results. The specimen with simply bonded CFRP strips failed below 50$\%$ of its tensile strength due to premature debonding. On the other hand, all the specimens strengthened with prestressed CFRP strips showed sufficient strengthening performance up to the ultimate rupture load of the CFRP strips. Also, it was observed that the cracking loads and yield loads of the strengthened beams were increased proportionally to the prestress level, but the maximum loads were nearly equal regardless of the prestress level.