Bond-slip characteristics of slightly corroded (less than 2% mass loss) reinforcing steel bars embedded in concrete were investigated with pull-out tests conducted after exposure to high temperature and subsequent cooling. Twenty-five scenarios consisting of five corrosion levels (0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% corrosion loss) and five exposed temperatures (20°C, 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C) were tested. The results indicate that the slight corrosion of the reinforcement not only affects the bond performance of concrete and steel bars but also influences their reaction to elevated temperature before the exposure temperature exceeds 400°C. The effect of slight corrosion on bond-mechanics behavior was eliminated by the dramatic decrease in concrete strength and significantly different thermal expansion between concrete and steel as the exposure temperature reached 600°C.

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have been widely used to strengthen the deteriorated reinforced concrete structures due to their outstanding characteristics of light weight, high strength, as well as noncorrosion. A successful strengthening with the FRP composites would equip the existing structures with the prominent improvement in terms of the durability, ductility, and bearing capacity. Current studies indicate that a simple and reliable anchorage system for the FRP composites will help improve the performance of the strengthened structures both efficiently and economically. Up till now, various anchorage systems have been developed for the FRP composites. Therefore, it is necessary to select appropriate anchorage systems according to different needs and establish relevant design specifications. In view of the aforementioned objectives, this paper systematically summarizes the anchoring mechanism of anchorage systems for two commonly used FRP products (FRP laminates and FRP bars) in different strengthened systems. Additionally, a state-of-the-art review as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each anchorage system are presented. Finally, shortcomings in the current state of knowledge and recommendations beneficial to further study are put forward.

To effectively utilize marine resources on reefs or islands and to improve the bearing capacity and serviceability of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforced seawater coral aggregate concrete (CAC) structures in marine environments, this paper investigates the applicability of using alkali-activated materials (AAMs) as substitutes for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in FRP reinforced CAC structures. Three types of FRP bars, i.e., carbon-FRP (CFRP), glass-FRP (GFRP), and basalt-FRP (BFRP) bars, with different bond lengths (L = 50, 70, and 100 mm) were selected to determine the bond characteristics of FRP bars in alkali-activated seawater coral aggregate concrete (AACAC), as well as in cement-based CAC, which was chosen as the reference. Moreover, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed to detect the microstructure characteristic at the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between the coral aggregates and the paste matrix. The results indicated that the AACAC specimens contained a stronger mechanical bite force at the paste–aggregate interface and exhibited a higher splitting tensile strength (approximately 6.7% improvement) than those of the CAC specimens. Additionally, the ultimate bond strength and the initial slope of the bond–slip curves at the ascending branch (i.e., initial bond stiffness) were significantly improved by utilizing AAMs. Improvements of approximately 26.6%, 26.8%, and 16.9% were achieved in the bond strength for the specimens with CFRP, GFRP, and BFRP bars, respectively. It was concluded that the utilization of AAMs as alternatives for OPC was an effective method in improving the mechanical interaction at the paste–aggregate interface and promoting the anchorage capacity of FRP bars in CAC, which may represent a promising approach for applying AAMs in FRP reinforced CAC structures or members.