Influence of the properties of externally bonded CFRP on the shear behavior of concrete/composite adhesive joints

This paper concerns the strengthening of concrete structures with externally bonded composite reinforcement, and focuses mainly on the influence of the FRP characteristics on the mechanical behavior of the composite to concrete interface. An experimental investigation was conducted, based on the characterization of such bonded assemblies and using a double lap joint shear test. Twelve different series of specimens were studied in order to evaluate the influence of various parameters related to the FRP material (i.e. the use of carbon or aramid and of fiber reinforced systems, the type of manufacturing process, the values of the Young modulus, the thickness of the FRP and the bonded length) as well as several parameters related to the adhesive joint (i.e. the lap joint thickness, the curing conditions and the elastic modulus of the epoxy adhesive). Analyses of the strain and shear stress distributions along the lap joints emphasized significant effects of the FRP properties and epoxy curing conditions on the interfacial strength. In addition, a bond strength model is proposed in the last part of the study.