Abstract
Current methods of flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete beams
with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) strips require timeconsuming
and often difficult preparation to provide adequate bond strength
between the FRP strip and the concrete substrate. This paper presents
a feasibility study of an alternative method of attaching FRP strips
to reinforced concrete beams. The method utilizes off-the-shelf powder-actuated
fasteners to attach pultruded FRP strips to the concrete. Small-sized
beams strengthened with this method were tested, and the results
were compared with the results from beams strengthened with conventional
bonding methods and to the results from control beams. Small-size
beams strengthened using powder-actuated fasteners attained 65 to
70% of the increase in capacity of the beams strengthened using the
conventional bonded method; however, the fastening method is extremely
rapid and the failure modes of the beams strengthened by the fastening
method were more ductile than those strengthened by the bonded method.
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