Innovative flexural strengthening of RC beams using self-anchored prestressed CFRP plates: Experimental and numerical investigations

• Self-anchored prestressed CFRP plates without the need for mechanical end anchorage. Significant improvement in bending stiffness, crack width, and load-carrying capacity. Nonlinear finite element analyses of flexural cracks crack-induced debonding plates. This paper presents an innovative method prestressing carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) used as externally bonded reinforcement strengthening concrete (RC) beams. The proposed aims to achieve self-anchorage plate thus eliminate conventional anchorage at its ends. Experimental tests RC beams four-point were conducted investigate efficiency self-anchored plate. experimental results showed that using significantly improved performance strengthened beam terms widths, utilisation ratio reached 81% debonding. Numerical nonlinear (FE) model tested specimens. Based on reliable simulation debonding, parametric studies FE analyses, order effect levels plate’s stiffness behaviour. Recommendations then made selecting a proper level properties