Pull-out test of carbon-fiber composite cable (CFCC) tendon for an internal anchorage

An internal strengthening system involving the embedding of a post-tensioned prestressing tendon in a wedge-shaped anchorage of an existing concrete member was developed previously. The previous study confirmed the adequate load capacity of the prestressing tendon for the internal strengthening technique. The tendons used in the previous investigation were steel-rigid bar and steel-wire cables. These steel tendons are prone to corrosion under severe environmental conditions, such as bridge deck slabs sprayed with deicers. Carbon fiber composite cables (CFCC) are occasionally employed as tendons in prestressed concrete bridges. This study focused on the non-metallic material and examined the load capacity of CFCC tendon in internal strengthening systems to achieve the feasibility of the technique under corrosive environment. The main concern of the novel strengthening system was the anchoring system of the CFCC in the internal wedge. In general, both ends of the CFCC tendon can be gripped with external fasteners and be provided a tensile force using a hydraulic jack. In an internal prestressing system, a CFCC end must be anchored without any external fastener. It is preferable to simply fix the CFCC in a small wedge anchor made of existing concrete. This study focused on developing a CFCC anchoring method in a wedge-shaped hole and examined the tensile load capacity of the CFCC tendon fixed in the anchorage. The end of the CFCC tendon was reversely twisted to improve the pullout resistance by increasing the diameter of the cable. To examine the load-bearing capacity of the developed CFCC tendon, a mock-up reinforced concrete (RC) block with an internal wedge-shaped anchorage was used. A CFCC tendon equipped with a reverse-twisted tip was inserted into a wedge-shaped hole filled with high-strength grout. A pull-out test of the CFCC tendon was conducted to examine its load-bearing capacity. The test results revealed that the CFCC tendon with a reverse-twisted tip embedded in the anchorage exhibited adequate load-bearing capacity. This study confirmed that the post-tensioned prestressing system using the CFCC tendon is appropriate for strengthening RC members having the thickness of at least 200 mm, such as bridge deck slabs.