Analysis of Concrete Bridge Girders Strengthened with Cfrp Laminates under Service and Extreme Loading Conditions

Externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates are a feasible and economical alternative to traditional methods for strengthening and stiffening deficient reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete girders as shown in Fig. (1). Although extensive research has already been undertaken to investigate the behavior of CFRP strengthened bridge girders, the majority of work conducted to date has been experimental in nature. Furthermore, while some studies have proposed design models and methodologies to identify the necessary number of laminates to achieve a target strength or stiffness, many important design issues still remain unresolved, particularly issues related to delamination and degradation under reversed cyclic loading typical of seismic excitations.