The plate bonding technique is a cost-effective method of strengthening reinforced concrete beams. Possible modes of failure can easily be predicted, except for the peeling failure for which no predictive model is available. Peeling is characterised by the debonding of…
The plate bonding technique is a cost-effective method of strengthening reinforced concrete beams. Possible modes of failure can easily be predicted, except for the peeling failure for which no predictive model is available. Peeling is characterised by the debonding of the plate caused by a horizontal splitting crack propagating at the level of the inner reinforcement. Assuming that the ultimate load is reached when the split- ting crack starts to propagate, a predictive model is developed using fracture mechanics. The critical load is obtained considering the energy balance of the system during splitting crack propagation. Simplifying as- sumptions are made and the empirical formula for the assessment of the fracture energy proposed by the CEB- FIP Model Code 1990 is used to obtain analytical formulae. This approach results in satisfactory agreement between experimental data and the predicted failure loads. It is concluded that a reliable design method could be developed from the proposed formulae.