The efficiency of shear strengthening of continuous reinforced concrete deep beams using new configurations of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) ropes and sheets was evaluated. Test parameters included the shear span-to-depth ratio ( \(a/h\) ) of beams, maximum aggregate size ( \(D_{\max }\) ) of concrete and the amount of FRP reinforcement. Fifteen two-span rectangular beams of 1450 mm length with \(a/h\) ratios of 1 and 0.75 were cast using concrete mixtures with \(D_{\max }\) of 19 and 10 mm. Twelve specimens were strengthened using five configurations involving near-surface mounted (NSM) continuous CFRP ropes with and without lateral CFRP dowels; externally bonded CFRP sheets applied to both side faces of the beam either directly or on grooves; and a hybrid technique comprising NSM and embedded through-section CFRP ropes. Test results revealed the superiority of using continuous triangular profiles of NSM CFRP ropes, especially for beams with higher \(a/h\) ratios. With the insertion of dowels, the NSM continuous ropes effectively delayed crack propagation and concrete cover separation resulting in 29, 96 and 13% increases in capacity, stiffness and toughness, respectively. Nonlinear finite element models for the test beams were developed using ABAQUS software. Predicted load-carrying capacities agreed well with the experimental values differing by merely 1–5%. In addition, analytical cracking patterns, reflected by plastic strain distribution and vertical stress trajectory, captured the experimental failure modes. This study offers new insights into the shear behavior of FRP-strengthened continuous RC deep beams, addressing a knowledge gap in how test parameters influence shear resistance and failure modes.
