Design method for calculating load-carrying capacity of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with external FRP

• The analytical design method for calculating the load-carrying capacity of strengthened beams.
• Evaluation of the influence of the stiffness of the bond between concrete and external FRP.
• Comparison of the experimental and calculated results.
• Statistical assessment of proposed design method.

This article analyses the load-carrying capacity of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with external FRP reinforcement. It provides a method for calculating the load-carrying capacity of strengthened beams. The calculation method enables to assess the influence of the bond slip on the load-carrying capacity of beams. A database has been created for experimental results. Calculations of the load-carrying capacity of strengthened beams have been made. The received theoretical results have been compared to the experimental ones. Statistical evaluation of the calculation method for load-carrying capacity has been carried out. The comparative and statistical analysis of the received results shows that the calculated load-carrying capacity of strengthened beams is similar to the one received in the course of experiments.