Experimental and Analytical Investigation into the Mechanical Performance of a Novel Multitendon CFRP Anchorage
Publication: Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 28, Issue 6
Abstract
Aiming to address anchoring challenges associated with carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) tendons used as cables, this study introduces a three-segment structure CFRP-bonded anchorage and conducts tests. Building upon the verified accuracy of a finite-element (FE) model, the mechanisms underlying CFRP cable failure are analyzed. Finally, four key parameters—CFRP tendon clear spacing, friction coefficient, elastic modulus of the bonding medium, and pretension force—were selected to optimize the CFRP cable stress distribution and enhance the anchoring effectiveness. The research findings indicate that the three-segment structure anchor design achieves effective anchoring for multitendon CFRP cables, with a mean efficiency exceeding 98%. Observations during testing indicated uneven stress among the anchor system’s inner and outer layer CFRP tendons, and FE analysis suggests that the uneven stress primarily manifests as nonuniform axial stress and contact shear stress. The former may lead to failure in CFRP tendons due to the combined tension–bending stress, while the latter may result in interface failure, causing CFRP tendon slippage. Comparative analysis of stress and displacement distribution between inner and outer layer CFRP tendons in the anchor zone elucidates the mechanism of uneven stress, attributing it to the displacement lag effect between layers of CFRP tendons. Further parameter optimization indicates that applying pretension force to CFRP tendons effectively reduces uneven stress, improving the degree of combined tension–bending stress in the CFRP tendons at the loading end.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51878488) and the Department of Transportation of Jiangxi Province (Grant Nos. 2024ZG002 and 2023H0008).
Notation
The following symbols are used in this paper:
- Ac
- cross-sectional area of the CFRP tendon;
- D1
- inner diameter at the loading end;
- D2
- inner diameter at the free end;
- dc
- diameter of the CFRP tendon;
- de
- distance from the center of the outermost CFRP tendon to the inner edge of the sleeve;
- ds
- clear spacing between CFRP tendons;
- Fcu
- theoretical ultimate load of the anchor system;
- Ftu
- tested ultimate load of the anchor system;
- fs
- nominal ultimate tensile strength of the CFRP tendon;
- l1
- length of the inner cone segment;
- l2
- length of the arc segment;
- l3
- length of the straight cylinder segment;
- n
- number of CFRP tendons;
- R
- radius of the arc segment;
- Δσ
- stress differences between the inner and outer layers of the CFRP tendons;
- Δu
- displacement differences between the inner and outer layers of the CFRP tendons;
- θ
- inner cone angle;
- η
- anchor efficiency;
- δσ
- stress differences between the inner and outer sides of the same CFRP tendons; and
- δu
- displacement differences between the inner and outer sides of the same CFRP tendons.
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© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Apr 16, 2024
Accepted: Aug 6, 2024
Published online: Sep 27, 2024
Published in print: Dec 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Feb 27, 2025
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