Experimental investigation of CFRP anchorage systems used for strengthening RC joints

Abstract Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials are widely used for strengthening existing reinforced concrete structures because of their light weight, easy implementation and high efficiency. However, recent seismic studies have revealed that FRP-strengthened specimens underperform due to the debonding of the FRP strips in the vicinity of L-shaped structural joints, resulting from the lack of an anchoring system to transfer loads from the FRP strips to the supporting structural element. To address this issue, four new anchorage techniques are presented in this paper, and experimental results for each are analysed in the form of failure modes, load displacement curves, longitudinal strain distribution curves, hysteresis loops and the ultimate capacity. This research paper concludes that these Carbon Fiber (CF) anchor systems enhance the overall seismic performance of FRP-strengthened specimens.