Evaluation of externally bonded CFRP systems for the strengthening of RC slabs
The use of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) as externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) for the repair and strengthening of deficient structures have been taking place since the late 1980’s. Continuous efforts in material development and research activities, with strong links to engineering practice, give this application more and more interest worldwide. This paper presents an experimental study on flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) slabs with different CFRP systems, using different EBR techniques. All the slabs were tested to failure under simply supported conditions. CFRP EBR increased the flexural strength and reduced the deflections and crack widths of the strengthened slabs. Two modes of failure were observed, delamination and rupture of the CFRP reinforcement.
BOND FAILURE MODES OF FLEXURAL MEMBERS STRENGTHENED WITH FRP
Concrete members are often strengthened in flexure with externally bonded reinforcement made of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP). Tests show that beside the classical failure modes, such as steel fracture, concrete crushing or shear failure, bond failures can occur in the interface between the externally bonded FRP and the concrete body. This paper is a review of current research results on bond failure modes. The failure modes are described and classified. Calculation models and possible design rules are discussed.
Representation of systems disturbed by wide band noise
In this paper, a method of handling and working with wide band noise is developed. We represent wide band noise as a distributed delay of white noise and use it to reduce a nonlinear system disturbed by wide band noise to a nonlinear system disturbed by white noise. An application of this reduction to a nonlinear filtering problem under a wide band noise disturbance is discussed.