The use of near surface mounted (NSM) fibers reinforced polymers (FRP) is being increasingly recognized as a valid technique for repairing and strengthening of concrete members. As this technology emerges, the structural behavior of NSM FRP strengthened elements needs to be characterized, and bond between NSM FRP bars and concrete is the first issue to be addressed. This paper presents the results of a series of 18 double shear tests on NSM FRP strengthened concrete. Aim of the project is to investigate the feasibility of the adopted test method and to investigate the mechanism of bond between NSM reinforcement and substrate material. Experimental results confirm the efficiency and reliability of the test method and the bond effectiveness of the NSM technique. Moreover, a local bond stress-slip relationship is determined based on experimental results and the outcome of a numerical investigation obtained from the DIANA TNO finite element analysis.
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