Pull-Out Testing of Titanium Alloy Bars in Near-Surface Mounted Retrofitting of Concrete Structures

Titanium Alloy Bars (TiABs) are a material of superior tensile strength, good ductility, lower modulus of elasticity, lighter weight, and exhibit highly corrosion-resistant qualities. TiABs offer a better cost- benefit ratio, bendability, and inspectability compared to alternative materials such as FRP wraps. TiABs are ideal for retrofitting existing structures in various applications and environments. Proven to be a practical solution for retrofitting deficient structures using near-surface mounted (NSM) techniques. NSM is a common practice used for strengthening concrete structures to restore eroded sections, enhance flexural/shear capacity, and/or seismically enhance performance. This current research extends the applications of TiABs in retrofitting of buildings; investigating critical research gaps for applications of TiABs in NSM retrofitting of buildings, including: 1) quantifying bond strength, and 2) detailing the end conditions for better bond and redundancy.