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Virginia Tech

Effects of Surface Condition on the Fatigue Behavior of CFRP-to-Steel Joints

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The strengthening of steel bridges using CFRP laminates has become a commonly used technique because of its numerous advantages compared to conventional repairs which involve welding or bolting of new steel plates. These structures will experience some sort of irregular cyclic loading during their lifetime and to analyze these complex loading cases, small scale testing is used to evaluate the fatigue performance between the steel substrate, adhesive layer and the CFRP laminate. In this research, double-strap joints (DSJ) were fabricated consisting of two high-modulus CFRP laminates and ASTM A36 steel plates bonded using a two-part epoxy adhesive. Two types of steel surface conditions were considered to evaluate the fatigue behavior under constant force amplitudes. Roughness on the steel substrate was achieved by ½ in (13 mm) diameter pits approximately 1/8 in (3.18 mm) deep to simulate an irregular surface. The results show that the surface condition has marginal influence on the total life of the specimens. To assess the damage accumulation in the DSJ, phenomenological methods like the nonlinear strength wearout Model (NLSW) and stiffness degradation were used. It was found that residual strength and stiffness decreased in a non-linear fashion. A non-linear model was used that agrees well with the experimental results and can be used to predict the residual strength of the specimens under variable amplitude fatigue (VAF).

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Civil Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2023

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Carrera Loza, Bernardo Jose
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Shakiba, Maryam
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Hebdon, Matthew Hardy
  • Sarlo, Rodrigo

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:36242
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/113384

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Carrera Loza, Bernardo Jose. Effects of Surface Condition on the Fatigue Behavior of CFRP-to-Steel Joints. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2023. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/113384