RC beams strengthened with NSM CFRP rods and modeling of peeling-off failure

The aim of the experimental programme developed in this work was to investigate the possibility of using Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) rods to strengthen concrete structural members with the Near Surface Mounted reinforcement (NSM) technique. The global behaviour of reinforced cantilever concrete beams strengthened by the NSM technique and subjected to flexure is investigated. The specific problem of cantilever beams (strengthening outward pressure) was studied. The global behaviour of the cantilever concrete beams was compared with that of beams subjected to flexure with four points load test. A carbon–epoxy pultruded FRP (CFRP) rod of 6 mm in diameter was used. The study was carried out up to the failure load, and focused on the modifications in mechanical behaviour, cracking and failure mode of the beams. An analytical and Finite Element models to predict the peeling-off failure mode were compared. The experimental results indicate that strengthening concrete structural members with the Near Surface Mounted reinforcement (NSM) gives satisfactory results.