Prestressed　carbon　fiber　reinforced　polymer　(CFRP)　has　been　proved　effective　on　flexural　strengthening　and　crack　repairing　of　reinforced　concrete　beams.　Various　types　of　anchor　systems　were　develop　for　prestressing　CFRP　composites.　However,　few　studies　were　conducted　for　thick　and　wide　CFRP　plates.　Under　this　background,　a　novel　circular　anchor　system　for　popular　3　by　50 mm　CFRP　plates　was　developed　and　tested.　Experimental　results　showed　that　the　novel　circular　anchor　system　had　a　capacity　of　297　kN,　which　is　higher　than　those　with　small　sections,　and　a　80%　usage　of　CFRP　tensile　strength　was　achieved.　The　capacity　of　circular　anchors　is　significantly　affected　by　magnitude　of　interference,　tooth　pattern　and　wedge　angles.　A　non-linear　finite　element　model　was　developed　to　investigate　mechanical　performance　of　circular　anchor　system.　Parameter　study　was　performed　to　optimize　the　design　of　the　new　anchor　system.　Numerical　results　showed　that　wedge　angle　and　tooth　pattern　dominated　the　failure　mode　and　anchor　strength　of　circular　shaped　anchor　system.　©　2022,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Switzerland　AG.