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This paper evaluates the bond behavior of high strength (HS), steel reinforcing bars and highlights the effect of various key parameters believed to affect the bond characteristics. Nine reinforced concrete spliced beams were constructed and tested. The beams had different splice lengths and levels of confinements. The applicability of different hypotheses for development of conventional steel bars was examined for the HS bars. The study is extended to examine the behavior of the reinforcing bars as shear reinforcement for concrete beams by testing twelve concrete beams reinforced with HS steel stirrups under static loading conditions. The main variables in the study included steel type, concrete compressive strength, web reinforcement ratio and shear span-to-depth ratio. The applicability of various building codes and standards for concrete beams with HS shear reinforcement was also evaluated.

Abstract:Strengthening of RC structures with externally bonded FRP (fiber reinforced polymers) has become an important challenge in civil engineering. Epoxy is the main bonding agent used so far, but in the case of a fire, it is subjected to complete loss of his bonding capabilities. Mineral based composites strengthening systems consist of FRPs and a cementitious bonding agent which form a repair or strengthening system that is more compatible with the concrete substrata, and roved its efficiency. The current research introduces the use of a special cementitious material "Grancrete" as a bonding agent. Test results of 32 T-section RC beams strengthened with various FRG (fiber reinforced Grancrete) strengthening systems are presented. The results demonstrated that most of the specimens were likely to fail by debonding of the FRP from the concrete either at the ends or at intermediate flexural cracks. This paper presents an in-depth study aimed at the development of a better understanding of debonding failures in RC beams strengthened with externally bonded FRP systems. Different analytical models, published in the literature for plate end debonding, are reviewed and compared to test results. The results also demonstrated that when using U-wraps, the specimens were likely to fail by FRP sheet rupture.

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