Review of improving the shear capacity of reinforced concrete beams augmented with fiber-reinforced polymer bars

The use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars represents a promising technique for enhancing the shear capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) members. Epoxy may be utilized to affix FRP bars into vertical holes drilled in concrete to enhance the shear strength of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the Embedded Through-Section (ETS) technique using FRP bars to enhance the shear strength of RC beams. From the literature review, the slanted ETS bars were significantly more efficient than the vertical ones, owing to the greater potential resistive bond length provided by the former shape because the directions of the bars will be perpendicular to the hypothetical directions of the shear cracks. For equivalent shear strengthening ratios, the ETS technique demonstrated superior efficacy compared to externally bonded (EB) and near-surface-mounted (NSM) methods. The remarkable efficacy of the ETS approach is attributable to the superior bonding conditions afforded by the core concrete encasing these bars.