Design Guidelines for Concrete Beams Prestressed with Partially-Bonded Fiber Reinforced Plastic Tendons

Abstract

The bond between an aramid fiber reinforced plastic (AFRP) tendon and concrete has a significant effect on the flexural behavior of a concrete beam pre-tensioned with AFRP. In particular, the performance of beams with prestressed AFRP tendons can be enhanced by the use of partially-bonded tendons. Two types of partial bond are possible; intermittent bond, where sections of the tendon are alternately bonded and debonded from the concrete, and adhesive bond, where the tendon is coated with a resin of known, low shear strength. However, the choice between these methods, and the determination of the values of the various parameters required are not trivial problems. It is found that a major obstacle in the development of a generalized design procedure for the partially-bonded beams is the uncertainty regarding the rotation at which the concrete will fail. Nevertheless, insight into design aspects of the intermittently-bonded and adhesively-bonded beams is gained and a design methodology is proposed.