Shear failure of RC elements strengthened with steel profiles and CFRP wraps

The paper presents an experimental activity carried out on RC elements strengthened in shear with different configurations of CFRP laminates. Nine specimens were tested with the aim of validating the performance of a new proposed technology that combines L shaped steel profiles and CFRP wrapped sheets: the steel profiles are placed along the section corners to increase the axial load carrying capacity, and the FRP sheets are devoted to increase the shear strength. The results of the experimental tests are compared with values predictable on the basis of both the Italian CNR-DT200 and the ACI 440.2R-02 codes. This comparison evidenced a weakness that lies in the expression reported in the Italian code.