Anchoring Issues of CFRP Laminates to Concrete Members

In recent years, carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates have conquered the structural rehabilitation market due to their ease and quick installation, high strength, anticorrosion properties, and other properties often repeated in the literature. The full potential of these high-strength elements can only be exploited by prestressing. However, the glued laminate joint is partially rigid, resulting in slippage that leads to premature debonding and failure. Therefore, anchoring of the laminate ends is required to stop or delay premature failure and/or perform prestressing. This article discusses the anchoring issues of CFRP laminates and guidelines for the development of anchoring systems. To achieve this goal, the laminate strip was bent, the required clamping forces were determined, possible cases of damage were identified, and individual stress concentrations were modelled. The methodology for calculating the anchor length and the pull-off force is also presented.