Date Published:

Abstract:

This experimental study aims to investigate the effects of the strengthening arrangement on the behavior and the performance of strengthened beams, according to the Near-Surface Mounted (NSM) and the Externally Bonded Reinforcement (EBR) techniques. In total five rectangular beams including a Control Beam (CB) and four Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) strengthened beams with NSM and EBR techniques. The beams were tested to failure in Four-Point Bending (FPB) test. The experimental program comprises two beams strengthened by one and two strips according to the NSM technique. Two other beams were strengthened by the same configuration with the EBR, whereas the last beam was un-strengthened and considered as the CB. The responses of control and strengthened beams were compared. The efficiency and the effectiveness of different CFRP configurations were evaluated. The test results showed that the flexural load capacity, the deflection, the ductility and the stiffness of strengthened beams increased with increasing of plates distribution. This increase was more significant for the EBR technique than the NSM. This paper also highlights the beams failure modes due to the different configurations of strengthening. The obtained results revealed that the crack patterns were affected by the arrangement of the strips.

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