Assessment of Flexural Strengthening Behavior Using the Stirrup-Cutting Near Surface Mounted(CNSM) CFRP strip

Abstract

Recently, the near surface mounted (NSM) FRP strengthening technique has been actively applied to deteriorated concrete structures for rehabilitation purposes. However, the use of this conventional NSM technique could be restricted due to the insufficient height or strength of the concrete cover. In this study, the stirrup-Cutting Near Surface Mounted(CNSM) technique was considered as an alternative, whereby NSM strips are placed at a deeper level, namely at the level of the main steel reinforcement. A flexural test of a concrete beam strengthened with CNSM technique was performed and the results were then compared to those for a concrete beam strengthened by the conventional NSM technique. The embedment length of the CFRP strips was varied in order to increase the effect of the anchoring depth of the NSM and CNSM CFRP strips in the beam specimens. From the results of the test, the beam with the CNSM CFRP strip showed typical structural behavior similar to that of the beam with the NSM CFRP strip. Moreover, there was no apparent structural degradation resulting from the stirrup partial-cutting. Consequently, the CNSM strengthening technique can be suitably utilized for extensively damaged concrete structures where it is difficult to apply the conventional NSM technique.