Calculation Technique for Externally Unbonded CFRP Strips in Structural Concrete Retrofitting

This paper presents a calculation procedure for externally unbonded carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips anchored at their ends in flexural strengthening of existing reinforced concrete structures. Due to strain incompatibility between the composite strip and the neighboring concrete surface, the well-known conventional cross-section analysis (CSA) employed for bonded reinforcements cannot be implemented. An iterative force equilibrium and strip strain adaptation with previously defined constitutive materials laws together with an optimization procedure in a numerical computing environment are used to overcome the computational complexities. For validation purposes, two static loading tests on reinforced concrete beams with an externally prestressed CFRP strip without bond except in the anchorage zones are compared to the numerical predictions. Prior to the final evaluation, a model for the anchorage resistance is implemented in the algorithm in order to capture the ultimate load due to anchorage failure. An excellent agreement in terms of structural behavior as well as of ultimate load-carrying capacity is observed. Eventually, the differences in the structural response between bonded and unbonded strips are pointed out.