An innovative experimental procedure to enhance understanding of rebar-concrete bond

The study described in this presentation is aimed at enhancing the understanding of the mechanisms that govern load transfer between concrete and a defonned rebar at the local vicinity of its ribs. It focuses on the rebar rib-concrete interaction, manifested by the rebar-concrete local slip and the rib geometry and spacing. To achieve that goal, an innovative pull-out test setup has been developed, whereby measurements of deformations in the concrete in the vicinity of the rebar's rib are continuously followed and recorded during the test, as the load and slip develop. This paper presents the principles of the new testing technique and demonstrates some results from initial tests that have been carried out.