FLEXURAL STRENGTHENING WITH CARBON FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITES OF PRELOADED FULL-SCALE GIRDERS. DISCUSSION AND CLOSURE

A discussion of a paper with the aforementioned title by M. Shahawy et al., published in this journal (Volume 98, Number 5, September-October 2001), is given. While commending the authors for an interesting paper and acknowledging the importance of conducting an experimental program to further the quality of strengthening reinforced concrete beams using CFRP fabrics, the discussers feel that certain aspects of the authors' paper should be discussed and relevant issues addressed. These issues primarily relate to the test program presented in the paper and are dealt with in some detail. In closure, the authors respond to these points.