• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.605-621
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• 2013

CFRP strips are widely used nowadays for repair/strengthening or capacity increase purposes. Sharp bending at the ends of the CFRP strips is frequently encountered at these applications. In this study, Reinforced Concrete (RC) beam specimens that were produced with 10 MPa compression strength concrete were strengthened by using bonded CFRP strips with end anchorages to tension region. The parameters that were investigated in this study are the width of the strip, the number of applied fan anchorages and whether additional layer of CFRP patch is used or not at the strip ends. Specimens were strengthened with 100 mm wide CFRP strips with one or two anchorages at the ends. In addition CFRP patch with two and three anchorages at the ends were tested for investigating the effect of the patches. Specimens that were strengthened with three anchorages at the ends with patches were repeated with 60 and 80 mm wide CFRP strips. The most successful result was obtained from the specimen that was strengthened with 80 mm wide CFRP strips with 3 end anchorages and patches among the others at the experimental program. The numbers of anchorages that were applied to ends of CFRP strips were more effective than the width of the CFRP strips onto strength and stiffness of the specimens. Due to limited space at the ends of the strips at most three anchorages could be applied.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.207-223
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• 2011

The results of an experimental investigation are presented in this paper for retrofitting of shear damaged reinforced concrete beams by using U shaped CFRP strips. The experimental program is consisted of seven shear deficient T cross sectioned 1/2 scale simply supported beam specimens. One beam was used as reference specimen, and the remaining six specimens were tested in two stages. At the first stage, specimens were shear damaged severely, and then were retrofitted by using CFRP strips with or without fan type anchorages. Finally, retrofitted beams were tested up to failure. Three different CFRP strip spacing were used such as 125 mm, 150 mm, and 200 mm. The effect of anchorages on shear strength and behavior of the retrofitted specimens is investigated. CFRP strips without anchorages improved the shear strength, but no flexural failure mode was observed. Specimens showed brittle shear failure due to peeling of CFRP strip from RC beam surface. Shear damaged specimens retrofitted with anchoraged CFRP strips showed improved shear strength and ductile flexural failure. Maximum strains at anchoraged strips were approximately 68% larger than that of strips without anchorages.