22 Ene Doctoral thesis on bond performance of CFRP strengthening systems
On January 20, 2026, Mehdi Agha Bagloo successfully defended his PhD thesis titled: “Bond performance of CFRP strengthening and hybrid anchoring systems for RC elements: experimental and analytical studies.”
This research focuses on improving CFRP-based strengthening techniques for reinforced concrete (RC) structures by investigating the bond behaviour and debonding mechanisms under both monotonic and fatigue loading. The study combines experimental testing and numerical modelling to advance the understanding of bond performance and to propose more effective strengthening strategies.
Key objectives and contributions of the research include:
– Development of a novel numerical procedure to identify the bond–slip law of CFRP–concrete interfaces without assuming predefined shapes.
– Experimental and numerical characterization of bond mechanisms in different CFRP strengthening techniques.
– Quantification of the role of friction and external compressive stresses in delaying premature debonding in hybrid bonded systems, including the influence of bolt torque and plate stiffness.
– Proposal and validation of a new strengthening technique that enhances conventional externally bonded reinforcement while reducing surface preparation requirements.
– Assessment of debonding behavior under fatigue loading for CFRP-strengthened concrete joints.
The PhD was supervised by Dra. Marta Baena Muñoz and Dra. Laura Carreras Blasco, and represents a significant contribution to the field of structural engineering and advanced strengthening techniques for RC structures.
During his PhD, Mehdi was also highly productive in scientific dissemination, publishing several high-impact journal papers (Q1) and presenting his work at international conferences, further contributing to the knowledge and advancement of CFRP strengthening techniques in reinforced concrete.
– Aghabagloo M, Carreras L, Barahona M, Barris C, Baena M. Experimental study and numerical prediction of the bond-slip law for concrete elements strengthened with FRP using metaheuristic algorithm. Construction and Building Materials 2024; 411: 134712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.134712
– Aghabagloo M, Carreras L, Prasad M, Codina A, Baena M. Assessment of the Experimental and Numerical Bond-Slip Law of Various Strengthening Systems in Reinforced Concrete Elements. International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials 2025; 19(1), 92. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40069-025-00838-5.
– Aghabagloo M, Carreras L, Barris C, Baena M. Experimental investigation on bond behaviour of HB FRP strengthened concrete elements. Composite Structures 2025; 362: 119069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2025.119069
– Aghabagloo M, Carreras L, Barris C, Codina A, Baena M. Externally bonded reinforcement side extended (EBRSE) technique to postpone debonding of FRP laminates in strengthened concrete elements. Case Studies in Construction Materials 2025; 23:e05066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2025.e05066.
– Aghabagloo M, Carreras L, Sena-Cruz J, Baena M. Fatigue behavior of externally bonded and hybrid-bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer–to–concrete joints. International Journal of Fatigue 2026 Jan 4:109482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2026.109482.
