Characteristics of Shear Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beams Strengthened with Near Surface Mounted CFRP Strips

Tests and analyses were performed in this study to assess the shear strength of Reinforced Concrete(RC) members strengthened by the Near Surface Mounted(NSM) technique in shear, which is drawing attention as an alternative to the Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer(CFRP) bonding strengthening technique. Four-point bending tests were performed on 7 RC specimens without any shear reinforcement. The test variables such as the inclination of CFRP strip (45 degrees and 90 degrees), and the spacing of CFRP strip (250mm, 200mm, 150mm, 100mm) were considered. Through the testing scenarios, the effect of each test variable on the failure mode and the shear strength of the RC members strengthened by the NSM technique in shear were assessed. The test results show that the specimens with CFRP strips at 45 degrees go to failure as a result of the strip fracture, but the specimens with CFRP strips at 90 degrees go to failure as a result of the slip of strips. Strips at 45 degrees was the more effective than strips at 90 degrees, not only in terms of increasing beam shear resistance but also in assuring larger deformation capacity at beam failure. In addition, the RBSN analysis appropriately predicted the crack formation and the load-displacement response of the RC members strengthened by the NSM technique in shear.