Experimental Study on Fatigue Life of Steel Beams Strengthened with a CFRP Plate

Abstract

The adhesive bonding between the steel beam and carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) plate is the weakest link and fatigue performance is a major consideration. This paper gives details of a fatigue test programme of a series of small-scale steel beams bonded with a CFRP plate. Two phases of the fatigue life, including crack initiation life and crack propagation life, are considered. Backface-strain technique was applied to monitor crack initiation. An S-N curve was developed from the test results. The curve correlates the maximum principal interfacial stress at the plate end to the crack initiation life. The fatigue limit of the S-N curve was found to be about 30% of the ultimate static failure stress. In accordance with Paris Law, moreover, an equation was developed to predict the number of cycles during the crack propagation. The empirical coefficients of the equation were obtained from the fatigue test results. This equation can correctly predict the crack propagation life. The fatigue load range affects the fatigue life, but its significance is much less than the magnitude of the maximum load in the load range.