Description:
<jats:p> This work presents a statistically oriented study aiming to assess the reliability of some of the most well-known design models available for the prediction of the contribution of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) systems applied according to the externally bonded reinforcing (EBR) technique for the shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Relevant data were collected from experimental programmes carried out in recent years in the context of shear strengthening with FRP, and an extended database was obtained. Using these data, the performance of different design guidelines was appraised by means of comparing the contribution of the FRP shear systems predicted by analytical formulations with those registered experimentally. In general, the obtained results were not very promising, since a large scatter of the design safety factor was observed and, for some cases, the contribution of the FRP systems predicted by the design models was highly unconservative. This may be of serious concern as these formulations may be currently used in design practice. </jats:p>