In these recent years, the strengthening of masonry building has known a massive use of CFRP sheets. Those composite materials glued on the elements to reinforce are exposed to prematurely debonding crisis due to a tension load which is much smaller than the tensile strength of the CFRP. A way to upgrade failure load of CFRP-to-support bonded joint is to reinforce the cohesion between the fibers and the support by the use of mechanicals anchors built with the same fibers of the composite and fastened in the support like "nails". Research on the use of anchors for masonry supports has been limited and, in this framework, there are no experimental analyses related to the design and the placement of fiber anchors. The aim of this thesis is to provide experimental data to quantify the efficiency of the carbon fiber anchors applied on a reinforced fire brick. This is a ground work to study CFRP to masonry bonded joint fastened by fiber "nails". Specifically, the analysis of the displacement and the strain fields of the reinforced surface have been realized by means of Digital Image Correlation (DIC), an optical appealing method never used to study a FRP to support bonded joint fastened by FRP anchor. The research demonstrates that the use of the CFRP anchor increases the resistance and the ductility of the reinforcements. The latter are important to augment the mechanical features of the structural members and, especially, to increase the safety of people during earthquakes by avoiding the brittle collapse of the strengthened elements. The digital image correlation has been a good tool for the strain field analysis; strengths and weaknesses of this method have been evaluated

La maintenance, la réparation et le renforcement de murs en maçonnerie par matériaux composites collés nécessitent le développement de méthodes et techniques d'évaluation de l'aptitude au service et de requalification tant pour leur restauration fonctionnelle que pour leur adaptation à de nouvelles contraintes (évolution du zonage sismique par exemple). Le présent travail de thèse a pour objectif de proposer un outil d'évaluation par calcul de l'état limite ultime de murs en maçonnerie, renforcés par composites collés, chargés dans leur plan.Les travaux effectués concernent la modélisation par homogénéisation de murs en maçonnerie et une campagne expérimentale de caractérisation du transfert de charge entre un renfort en tissu de fibres de carbone et un support en blocs creux de béton par le biais d'un joint de colle. Pour modéliser la résistance des murs maçonnés, nous proposons une loi élastique parfaitement plastique pour le comportement dans le plan d'une maçonnerie constituée de blocs liés par des joints de mortier. Le convexe de plasticité est obtenu par une technique d'homogénéisation périodique qui prend en compte la nature tridimensionnelle de la cellule de base. On obtient alors un convexe limité par plusieurs surfaces de charge. Un algorithme numérique original est ensuite proposé et programmé dans le logiciel aux Eléments Finis ABAQUS. Des simulations numériques utilisant le module développé sont présentées / Maintenance, repair and reinforcing of masonry walls with composite materials glued require the development of methods and techniques for evaluating the suitability for service and retraining for both their functional restoration for their adaptation to new constraints (changes seismic zoning for example). This thesis aims to propose an evaluation tool by calculating the limit state of masonry walls,reinforced bonded composite, loaded in their plane.The work done on modeling by homogenization of masonry walls and acampaign experimental characterization of charge transfer between a reinforcement of carbon fiber fabric and a backing of hollow blocks concrete by means of an adhesive joint. To model the resistance of masonry walls, we propose a law for elastic perfectly plastic behavior in the plane formed of masonry blocks connected by mortar joints. The convex plasticity is obtained byperiodic homogenization technique which takes into account the three dimensional nature of the basic cell. This gives a convex bounded by several surfaces of charge. An algorithm digital original is then proposed and programmed in the finite element software ABAQUS. Numerical simulations using the developed module are presented

Concrete deep beams with small shear span-to-depth (a/d) ratios are common elements in structures. However, there are few experimental results on the behaviour of FRP reinforced concrete deep beams and no specific modelling techniques exist in design codes for such members. The objectives of this study were to examine the shear behaviour of FRP reinforced concrete deep beams containing no web reinforcement and to develop a modelling technique. Test results of 12 large-scale specimens are reported where the primary variables included the a/d ratio, reinforcement ratio, member height, and concrete strength. The results showed that an arch mechanism was able to form in FRP reinforced concrete beams having a/d 2.1. A strut and tie modelling procedure adapted from CSA A23.3-04 was capable of accurately predicting the capacity of FRP reinforced concrete deep beams containing no web reinforcement while sectional shear models gave poor, but conservative, predictions. / Structural Engineering

The introduction of fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) to the field of civil engineering has led to numerous research efforts focusing on a wide range of applications where properties such as high strength, light weight or corrosion resistance are desirable. In particular, FRP materials have been especially attractive for use as internal reinforcement in reinforced concrete (RC) structures exposed to aggressive environments due to the rapidly deteriorating infrastructure resulting from corrosion of conventional steel reinforcement. While FRPs have been successfully implemented in a variety of structural applications, little research has been conducted on the use of FRP reinforcement for short span slab bridges. Furthermore, the behaviour of FRP-RC flexural members cast with self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is largely absent from the literature. The present study investigates the behaviour of an all-FRP reinforcement system for slab bridges which combines lower cost glass FRP (GFRP) reinforcing bars with high performance carbon FRP (CFRP) prestressed tendons in SCC to produce a structure which is both cost-efficient and characterized by excellent structural performance at the serviceability, ultimate and fatigue limit states. An extensive experimental program comprised of 57 large or full-scale slab strips was conducted to investigate the effects of reinforcement type, reinforcement ratio, prestressing level and shear reinforcement type on the flexural performance of slab bridges under both monotonic and fatigue loading. The proposed reinforcement system was found to display excellent serviceability characteristics and high load capacities as well as significant deformability to allow for sufficient warning prior to failure. Lastly, the use of post-tensioned CFRP tendons limited the stresses in the GFRP reinforcing bars leading to significantly longer fatigue lives and higher fatigue strengths compared to non-prestressed slabs. Analytical models were used to predict the behaviour of the slab bridge strips at service and at ultimate. Where these models failed to accurately represent the experimental findings, simple modifications were proposed. The results from ancillary tests were also used to modify existing analytical models to predict the effects of fatigue loading on the deflection, crack width, shear resistance and flexural capacity of each of the tested slabs.

Aging bridges in the United States demand effective, efficient, and economical strengthening techniques to meet future traffic requirements. One such technique is to bond steel or fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) plates to the tension faces of reinforced concrete bridge beams with adhesives to strengthen them in flexure. However, beams that have been flexurally strengthened in this manner often fail prematurely, in particular by plate end peeling. The benefits of flexural strengthening by externally bonded reinforcement can only be fully realized by preventing premature failure modes so as to allow the development of composite action between the beam and the external reinforcement. With this goal in mind, several critical limit states of externally reinforced beams are examined in this thesis. Models developed by Roberts (1989) and by Colotti, Spadea, and Swamy (2004) that predict premature plate end debonding are examined in depth using data from previously conducted experimental programs that employed both steel and FRP external reinforcement. In addition, various parameters of the concrete beam, adhesive, and external reinforcement are analyzed in each model to determine the role of each parameter in failure prediction. A critical appraisal of the performance of the models using existing experimental data leads to the selection of the Roberts (1989) model. This model is used to develop recommended design guidelines for flexurally strengthening reinforced concrete bridge beams with externally bonded FRP plates and for preventing premature plate peeling.

Many studies with Thermoelastic Stress Analysis (TSA) and Infrared Thermography, in Fiber Reinforced Polymeric materials (FRPs), are concerned with surface detection of "hot spots" in order to locate and infer damage. Such experimental analyses usually yield qualitative relations where correlations between stress state and damage severity cannot be obtained. This study introduces quantitative experimental methodologies for TSA and Digital Image Correlation to expand the use of remote sensing technologies for static behavior, static damage initiation detection, and fatigue damage in FRPs. Three major experimental studies are conducted and coupled with nonlinear anisotropic material modeling: static and TSA of hybrid bio-composite material systems, a new stochastic model for fatigue damage of FRPs, and fracture analysis for FRP single-lap joints. Experimental calibration techniques are developed to validate the proposed macromechanical and micromechanical nonlinear anisotropic modeling frameworks under multi-axial states of stress. The High Fidelity Generalized Method of Cells (HFGMC) is a sophisticated micromechanical model developed for analysis of multi-phase composites with nonlinear elastic and elastoplastic constituents is employed in this study to analyze hybrid bio-composites. Macro-mechanical nonlinear anisotropic models and a linear orthotropic model for fracture behavior using the Extended Finite Element method (XFEM) are also considered and compared with the HFGMC method. While micromechanical and FE results provide helpful results for correlating with quasi-static behavior, analyzing damage progression after damage initiation is not straightforward and involves severe energy dissipation, especially with increasing damage progression. This is especially true for fatigue damage evolution, such as that of composite joints as it is associated with uncertainty and randomness. Towards that goal, stochastic Markov Chain fatigue damage models are used to predict cumulative damage with the new damage indices proposed using full-field TSA image analysis algorithms developed for continuously acquired measurements during fatigue loading of S2-Glass/E733FR unidirectional single-lap joints. Static damage initiation is also investigated experimentally with TSA in single-lap joints with thick adherends providing for new design limitations. The computational modeling, stochastic and experimental methods developed in this study have a wide range of applications for static, fracture and fatigue damage of different FRP material and structural systems.

The shear capacity of reinforced concrete pier caps in existing bridge support systems can be a factor which limits the capacity of an existing bridge. In their usual configuration, pier caps behave as deep beams and have the ability to carry load through tied arch action after the formation of diagonal cracks. Externally bonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement has been shown to increase the shear capacity of reinforced concrete members which carry load through beam action. However, there is an insufficient amount of research to make it a viable strengthening system for beams which carry load through arch action, such as pier caps. Accordingly, this research was aimed at investigating the behavior of reinforced concrete pier caps through a coordinated experimental and analytical program and to recommend an external strengthening method for pier caps with perceived deficiencies in shear strength. The experimental study was performed on laboratory specimens based on an existing bridge in Georgia. A number of factors were examined, including size, percentage longitudinal reinforcement and crack control reinforcement. The results showed that increasing the longitudinal tension reinforcement increased the beam capacity by changing the shape of the tied arch. In contrast, the presence of crack control reinforcement did not change the point at which diagonal cracking occurred, but it did increase the ultimate capacity by reinforcing the concrete against splitting. The results of the experimental study were used in conjunction with a larger database to examine different analytical methods for estimating the ultimate capacity of deep beams, and a new method was developed for the design of external strengthening. Two specimens were tested with externally bonded FRP reinforcement applied longitudinally to increase the strength of the tension tie. The test results correlated well with the proposed method of analysis and showed that increasing the strength of the longitudinal tension tie is an effective way to increase the strength of a reinforced concrete deep beam.

Η παρούσα Διατριβή Διπλώματος Ειδίκευσης πραγματεύεται το ζήτημα της καμπτικής ενίσχυσης υποστυλωμάτων οπλισμένου σκυροδέματος υφισταμένων κατασκευών. Συγκεκριμένα, διερευνάται η αποτελεσματικότητα μίας νέας μεθόδου ενίσχυσης, η οποία συνίσταται στην επικόλληση υφάσματος ινοπλισμένων πολυμερών στις παρειές του μέλους, η αγκύρωση του οποίου πέραν της κρίσιμης διατομής εξασφαλίζεται με χρήση αγκυρίων μορφής θυσάνου ινών άνθρακα. Επιπλέον, και εξωτερικά των αγκυρίων, εφαρμόζεται τοπικός μανδύας συνθέτων υλικών. Για το σκοπό αυτό, διεξήχθησαν στο Εργαστήριο Μηχανικής και Τεχνολογίας Υλικών του τμήματος Πολιτικών Μηχανικών του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών συνολικά πέντε πειραματικές δοκιμές επί υποστυλωμάτων πλήρους κλίμακας. Τα χρησιμοποιηθέντα δοκίμια ήταν υποστυλώματα τετραγωνικής διατομής τύπου προβόλου, με ύψος ίσο με το μισό ύψος τυπικού ορόφου, σχεδιασμένα με ανεπαρκείς λεπτομέρειες όπλισης. Ένα εξ αυτών ενισχύθηκε με τοπικό μανδύα στον πόδα του και υπεβλήθη σε δοκιμή ανακυκλιζόμενης πλευρικής μετακίνησης της κορυφής του, με ταυτόχρονη επιβολή σταθερού θλιπτικού αξονικού φορτίου. Στην ίδια ιστορία φόρτισης υπεβλήθησαν τρία ακόμα δοκίμια, ενισχυμένα σύμφωνα με την υπό διερεύνηση μέθοδο, μελετώντας την επιρροή του αριθμού των εφαρμοσθέντων αγκυρίων και της συνολικής ποσότητας των ινών τους στην αποτελεσματικότητα της μεθόδου. Τέλος, ένα δοκίμιο υπεβλήθη σε μονοτονική φόρτιση αυξανομένης πλευρικής μετακίνησης με ταυτόχρονη επιβολή σταθερού θλιπτικού αξονικού φορτίου, με σκοπό τη μελέτη της επίδρασης της ανακύκλισης της φόρτισης στην αποτελεσματικότητα της μεθόδου. Το σύνολο των χρησιμοποιηθέντων συνθέτων υλικών στο πειραματικό πρόγραμμα, συνίστατο από ίνες άνθρακα σε μήτρα εποξειδικής ρητίνης. Η παρούσα εργασία χωρίζεται σε επτά Κεφάλαια. Το πρώτο Κεφάλαιο αποτελεί την εισαγωγή της παρούσης διατριβής. Παρουσιάζονται οι λόγοι που καθιστούν αναγκαία την καμπτική ενίσχυση υποστυλωμάτων σημαντικού μέρους των υφισταμένων κατασκευών οπλισμένου σκυροδέματος, γίνεται σύντομη αναφορά στη χρήση των συνθέτων υλικών στο πεδίο των ενισχύσεων καθώς και στις μηχανικές ιδιότητες αυτών και τέλος γίνεται αναφορά στο αντικείμενο της παρούσης διατριβής. Στο δεύτερο Κεφάλαιο, παρουσιάζεται το θεωρητικό υπόβαθρο της υπό διερεύνηση μεθόδου ενίσχυσης. Στο τρίτο Κεφάλαιο, συνοψίζονται στοιχεία από τη διεθνή βιβλιογραφία, σχετικά με προγενέστερες έρευνες που έχουν λάβει χώρα και που έχουν άμεση σχέση με το αντικείμενο της παρούσης διατριβής. Στο τέταρτο Κεφάλαιο, παρουσιάζεται το πειραματικό πρόγραμμα που έλαβε χώρα, προκειμένου να αξιολογηθεί η αποτελεσματικότητα της υπό διερεύνηση μεθόδου και η επίδραση των διαφόρων παραμέτρων σε αυτήν. Στο πέμπτο Κεφάλαιο, παρουσιάζονται τα αποτελέσματα των διεξαχθέντων πειραματικών δοκιμών. Γίνεται παρουσίαση των πειραματικών αποτελεσμάτων για το σύνολο των δοκιμίων, σε διαγραμματική κατά κανόνα μορφή. Ακολουθεί συγκριτική παρουσίαση της συμπεριφοράς αυτών. Επίσης, γίνεται προσπάθεια, μέσω των πειραματικών καταγραφών, εκτίμησης των μέσων παραμορφώσεων αστοχίας των χρησιμοποιηθέντων αγκυρίων. Στο έκτο Κεφάλαιο, παρουσιάζεται μια προσπάθεια εκτίμησης των μέσων παραμορφώσεων αστοχίας των χρησιμοποιηθέντων αγκυρίων, μέσω των καταγεγραμμένων κατά τις πειραματικές δοκιμές ροπών αντίστασής των δοκιμίων, κάνοντας χρήση ενός υπολογιστικού εργαλείου, το οποίο αναπτύχθηκε από τον ίδιο το συγγράφοντα για το σκοπό αυτό. Τα εξαγχθέντα συμπεράσματα, εν συνεχεία, αξιολογούνται βάσει των πειραματικών καταγραφών. Στο έβδομο Κεφάλαιο, τέλος, το οποίο αποτελεί και τον επίλογο της παρούσης διατριβής, παρουσιάζονται συγκεντρωτικά τα εξαγχθέντα συμπεράσματα και γίνονται προτάσεις για μελλοντική έρευνα. Μέσω των διεξαχθέντων πειραματικών δοκιμών και της επεξεργασίας των αποτελεσμάτων αυτών, κατέστη σαφές πως η υπό διερεύνηση μέθοδος καμπτικής ενίσχυσης υποστυλωμάτων είναι επαρκώς αποτελεσματική, ώστε να αποτελέσει βιώσιμη λύση στο πεδίο των ενισχύσεων, σε περιπτώσεις που απαιτείται αύξηση της καμπτικής αντοχής υποστυλωμάτων χωρίς παράλληλη απαίτηση αύξησης της ικανότητας παραμόρφωσης αυτών, κυρίως λόγω της ευκολίας εφαρμογής της. / This master thesis presents the results of an experimental program aiming to study the behavior of RC columns under simulated seismic loading, strengthened in flexure (of crucial importance in capacity design) using Carbon Composite Anchors. The role of different parameters is examined, mostly by comparison of the lateral load versus displacement response characteristics. With proper design, it seems that column strength enhancement does not develop at the expense of low deformation capacity.

Ageing infrastructure that is shear deficient and may be at risk of brittle collapse, particularly in seismically active regions, can be economically strengthened using externally bonded fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP). Although many studies have been conducted on small-scale specimens subject to monotonic loading, little experimental data exists for large-scale specimens and those tested under reversed cyclic loading to simulate a seismic event. An experimental study of large-scale (400 mm x 650 mm) beam specimens strengthened in shear with FRP was conducted to examine the effects of reversed cyclic loading and to quantify material shear strength contributions. Testing showed that FRP retrofits were highly effective at improving shear performance and were not adversely affected by reversed cyclic loading prior to the occurrence of flexural yielding. The shear resistance attributed to concrete was found to remain relatively consistent with reversed cyclic loading prior to flexural yielding, after which point concrete strength decay was apparent. The loss of concrete shear resistance directly influenced the rate of FRP straining and the achievable ductility. An analytical model using the Modified Compression Field Theory (MCFT) was developed for externally bonded FRP reinforcement to describe the experimental behaviour and to evaluate the accuracy of current FRP design methods. Failures were accurately modelled when appropriate FRP strain limits were used for the ultimate strength and for the stress transfer capacity across the shear crack. Proposed FRP strain limits were developed considering the strain distribution along the crack plane. In addition, improved strain limits incorporate the effect of rupture failure due to stress concentrations in the FRP wrapped around the beam corners. The proposed FRP formulations offer improved accuracy over the current FRP design methods (CSA S6-06 and ACI 440.2R-08), which suggest a broadly applied maximum strain limit of 0.004 mm/mm, which was determined to be overly conservative for FRP rupture failures.

Ageing infrastructure that is shear deficient and may be at risk of brittle collapse, particularly in seismically active regions, can be economically strengthened using externally bonded fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP). Although many studies have been conducted on small-scale specimens subject to monotonic loading, little experimental data exists for large-scale specimens and those tested under reversed cyclic loading to simulate a seismic event. An experimental study of large-scale (400 mm x 650 mm) beam specimens strengthened in shear with FRP was conducted to examine the effects of reversed cyclic loading and to quantify material shear strength contributions. Testing showed that FRP retrofits were highly effective at improving shear performance and were not adversely affected by reversed cyclic loading prior to the occurrence of flexural yielding. The shear resistance attributed to concrete was found to remain relatively consistent with reversed cyclic loading prior to flexural yielding, after which point concrete strength decay was apparent. The loss of concrete shear resistance directly influenced the rate of FRP straining and the achievable ductility. An analytical model using the Modified Compression Field Theory (MCFT) was developed for externally bonded FRP reinforcement to describe the experimental behaviour and to evaluate the accuracy of current FRP design methods. Failures were accurately modelled when appropriate FRP strain limits were used for the ultimate strength and for the stress transfer capacity across the shear crack. Proposed FRP strain limits were developed considering the strain distribution along the crack plane. In addition, improved strain limits incorporate the effect of rupture failure due to stress concentrations in the FRP wrapped around the beam corners. The proposed FRP formulations offer improved accuracy over the current FRP design methods (CSA S6-06 and ACI 440.2R-08), which suggest a broadly applied maximum strain limit of 0.004 mm/mm, which was determined to be overly conservative for FRP rupture failures.