Durability of bond of EBR CFRP laminates to concrete under real-time field exposure and laboratory accelerated ageing

Abstract

The durability of bond between carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates and concrete with the externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) technique was investigated under real-time field exposure (RTFE) and accelerated ageing. The experimental program, over two years, includes four outdoor environments inducing carbonation, freeze–thaw attack, extreme temperatures, and airborne chlorides from the ocean. A laboratory environment (20 ◦C/55% RH) was used as reference environment. Additionally, a water-immersion environment (20 ◦C) was also considered. Relatively low values of bond degradation were observed, where the maximum pullout force varied between − 4 % and +16 % under RTFE, while on water–immersed specimens, the maximum pullout force decreased by ~8 %.