Validity of Design Standards in Shear Strength of CFRP Concrete Member Without Shear Reinforcement

The shear design of concrete members reinforced with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) bars remains a key hurdle for engineers. This study experimentally investigates the shear behavior of normal-strength concrete members reinforced with CFRP bars without shear reinforcement subjected to monotonic loading. Specifically, this research investigates the effect of anchorage length on shear-dominated behavior, aiming to provide a novel assessment of the interaction between shear and anchorage design—two aspects that have traditionally been treated in isolation in existing studies. The experimental results revealed that all test members, regardless of reinforcement type or anchorage length, exhibited a shear strength ranging from 1.1 to 5.63 times the code-predicted values, confirming the conservatism of current design standards. This pronounced difference in the shear strength of reinforced members is attributed to (1) the unexpectedly significant contribution of dowel action because of the high tensile strength and over-reinforcement ratio, and (2) the inherent conservatism in current code equations for shear capacity. Unlike prior studies that noted conservative shear prediction, this research demonstrated that anchorage length requirements, which are typically linked to flexural design, can be significantly relaxed in shear-dominated members with safety secured. This research highlights the need to refine shear prediction models for CFRP members by incorporating parameters that account for the reinforcement ratio and the unique contribution of dowel action. Furthermore, a revision of anchorage length design standards is justified to develop a more rational and economical design for shear-dominated members.