Abstract
The strengthening of reinforced concrete structures by externally bonded GFRP has become increasingly common in resent years. However the analysis and design method for GFRP plate strengthening of RC beams is not well established yet. The purpose of present paper is, therefore, to define the failure mechanism and failure behavior of strengthened RC beam using GFRP and then to propose a resonable method for the calculation of interface debonding load for those beams. From the experimental results of beams strengthened by GFRP, the influence of length and thickness, width of plate on the interfacial debonding failure behavior of beam is studied and, on the basis of test results, the semi-empirical equation to predict debonding load is developed. The proposed theory based on nonlinear analysis and critical flexural crack width, predicts relatively well the debonding failure load of test beams and may be efficiently used in the analysis and design of strengthened RC beams using GFRP.
