International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC)
Abstract
To appraise the performance of the Near surface mounted (NSM) technique with carbon fiber
reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates for the shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams
having a certain percentage of existing steel stirrups, an extensive experimental research was carried
out. The influence on the effectiveness of the NSM shear strengthening technique of the following
parameters was investigated: the concrete strength; the percentage of existing steel stirrups; the
percentage and orientation of the CFRP laminates. To evaluate the influence, on the strengthening
effectiveness, of already existing cracks when a beam is shear strengthened with NSM CFRP
laminates, some of the RC beams were pre-cracked prior to their strengthening. A detailed description
of the carried out experimental research and a discussion of the obtained results are done in the
present paper.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT
