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.