Experimental study on FRP-to-concrete bonded joints

The behaviour of bond between FRP and concrete is a key factor controlling the behaviour of concrete structures strengthened with FRP composites. This article presents an experimental study on the bond shear strength between FRP and concrete using a near-end supported (NES) single-shear pull test. The test results are found to be in close agreement with the predictions of Chen and Teng's [J. Struct. Eng. 127(2001) 784] bond strength model, which mutually verifies the reliability of both the test method and the Chen and Teng model in general. The NES single-shear pull test, given its simplicity and reliability, is therefore a good candidate as a standard bond test. The test results also showed that Chen and Teng's [J. Struct. Eng. 127(2001) 784] bond strength model is slightly conservative when the FRP-to-concrete width ratios are at the two extremes, but this small weakness can be easily removed when more test results of good quality become available. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.