An experimental study on bond-type anchorages for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer cables

• Large CFRP cable specimens tested with up to 16 Leadline tendons.
• Failure of new resin matrix bond-type anchor controlled by tendon rupture.
• Three specimens tested under varying sustained load duration.
• The proposed bond-type anchor was successfully used in an actual bridge.

It is well-known that the axial performance of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) cables is excellent, while the lateral compression and shear strengths are low. Thus, traditional steel cable anchorages cannot be used for CFRP cables due to the local crushing failure mode that would develop. Hence, a new bond-type anchorage filled with resin was proposed and five CFRP cables were fabricated with the new anchorage, which were tested statically to failure in tension. The tensile capacity, bond strength and pullout behavior of the new anchorage for CFRP cables were observed experimentally and are presented in this paper. The load–slip behavior of the new anchorage, sustained loading effect, load–deformation curves and the stress variation between tendons in the cables are also presented and discussed. Tensile fracture of the tendons was observed for all the five cables tested with efficiency coefficients all greater than 1.00. The tensile strength and overall performance achieved by the anchorage and CFRP cable system satisfied the design requirements for use in an experimental cable-stayed bridge constructed in China.