BOND BEHAVIOR BETWEEN STEEL AND HIGH MODULUS CFRP PLATES AT MODERATLEY ELEVATED TEMPERATURES

This thesis presents the findings of a research study that was conducted to assess the effect of moderately elevated temperatures, up to 50oC, on the bond behavior of steel beams strengthened with externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates. In the first phase of the research, five steel-CFRP bonded double-lap shear coupons were tested at different temperatures to characterize the bond behavior. In the second phase of testing steel beams were strengthened with different configurations of high modulus CFRP plates and subjected to different combinations of applied load and ambient temperature. The temperature ranges considered were selected to represent typical environmental conditions experienced by many steel bridges and structures in different environments. The parameters that are considered in this study include the length of the CFRP plate and the combined effect of mechanical and thermal load.