Effect of temperature variation and pre-sustained loading on the bond between basalt FRP sheets and concrete

The coupled effects of temperature variation and pre-sustained loading on the bond between basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) sheets and a concrete substrate were studied. Single lap-shear test specimens were exposed to temperatures of 15, 30, 40, 50, and 60 °C for 3 h with pre-sustained loading at 35% of the ultimate load capacity (F_u). Compared with the case of 15 °C, the interfacial fracture energy of the specimens at 30 and 40 °C increased by 46% and 11%, respectively, whereas those reduced by 73% and 77% at 50 and 60 °C, respectively. The coupled effects of temperature and pre-sustained loading on the effective bond length are insignificant for the specimens at both 15 and 30 °C and the effective bond length increased to 300 mm when the temperature exceeded 40 °C. The failure crack still occurred in the concrete substrate at the temperatures of 15 and 30 °C, and changed to the debonding of the adhesive layer from the concrete substrate at the temperature above 30 °C.