ABSTRACT
Near-Surface Mounting (NSM) Fibre-Reinforced Polymers (FRP) into saw-cut grooves of concrete structures has a number of benefits over the more common technique of external bonding. The main advantages include: higher debonding resistances; greater utilisation of the FRP material; and reduced installation work as surface preparation is not necessary (Teng et al. 2006, De Lorenzis and Teng 2007, Seracino et al. 2007). These benefits in the short-term are now well known, however less is understood about the long-term performance of NSM FRP-to-concrete joints. As embedded FRP strips or bars lie within the depth of concrete cover, the critical bond between the concrete and FRP is insulated from its surroundings, potentially allowing for NSM FRP joints to exhibit better performance with environmental exposure. A number of guidelines now provide recommendations for the preparation, installation and insulation of NSM FRP.
