ANALYTICAL IDENTIFICATION OF BOND PARAMETERS FOR EB-FRP JOINTS

An analytically based methodology is developed to identify the interfacial bond parameters of externally-bonded FRP-to-concrete joints. A closed-form solution for bond strength derived by the authors recently is used for determination of the bond parameters by matching the analytical solution to test results. The database used for modeling comprises 628 tests. Through analytical reasoning, the factors that govern the bond properties are identified and the configurations of the models are proposed. It is identified from the work that the FRP-to-concrete width factor should be a function of concrete strength that was ignored in existing bond models. Explicit and simple models for the bond parameters, which can be conveniently adopted for practical design and analyses of EB-FRP strengthened structural members, are obtained from the work. Using the proposed parameters, models for local/overall bond strength and interfacial fracture energy are also derived for engineering uses.