ABSTRACT
The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of three kinds of pre- or post- damage on the cracking behavior of CFRP-strengthened RC beam and to develop a rational methodology for predicting the average stabilized crack spacing. The pre- damage is induced by either only sustained loading or sustained loading and corrosion combined actions. The post- damage was induced by wetting- drying cycles. The crack pattern, crack spacing and width of test beams were recorded and compared and the related mechanism was discussed. Then a model which is capable of evaluating crack behaviors of CFRP-strengthened beam with or without damage was developed. The analytical approach is based on equilibrium and compatibility equations to formulate the average stresses of concrete, CFRP laminate of a CFRP-strengthened beam element.
