Analysis of Adhesion Stresses for the Design of RC Beam Bonded with Thin Composite Plate

Fibre‐reinforced plastic (FRP) materials have been recognised as new innovative materials for concrete rehabilitation and retrofit. Since concrete is poor in tension, a beam without any form of reinforcement will fail when subjected to a relatively small tensile load. Therefore, the bonding of FRP plate to reinforced concrete (RC) structure is an effective solution to increase its overall strength. In such plated beams, tensile forces develop in the bonded plate and these have to be transferred to the original beam via interfacial shear and normal stresses. Consequently, the debonding of FRP plates bonded to reinforced concrete beams is believed to be initiated by the stress concentration in the adhesive layer. Accurate predictions of the interfacial stresses are prerequisite for designing against debonding failures. In the present analysis, a simple theoretical model to estimate shear and normal stresses is proposed, including the variation in FRP plate fibre orientation. The solution shows significant shear and normal stresses concentration at the plates end. A parametrical study is carried out to show the effects of some design variables, e.g., thickness of adhesive layer and FRP plate, and the distance from support to cut ‐ off end of bonded plates.