Externally bonding prestressed carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates to reinforce concrete beams is an effective and convenient technique to improve beams�? flexural strength. This paper describes a modifiedanchorage system for prestressing high-strength CFRP laminates in which the maximum prestress level was about 60% of the CFRP laminate’s ultimate tensile strength of 2500 MPa (362si). Experimental studies on nine 2.7-m-long (9 ft) reinforced concrete beams investigated the influence of prestress level, width of the high-strength CFRP laminates, and the tensile reinforcement ratio on the flexural behavior of the strengthened beams. The results indicated that prestressed CFRP laminates provide the best crack control, mitigate laminate debonding failure, and increase the flexural capacity of the concrete beams.
