Case study of shear strengthening of RC Corbels by steel plates using fea

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the possibility of strengthening RC corbels with many strengthening techniques. The research analyzed the RC corbels behavior under a wide range of variables. The theoretical study consisted of twelve models reinforced with GFRP bars with strengthening by steel plate. Finite element analysis with ANSYS APDL was used to verify five specimens. This research deals with a static nonlinear FE simulation to investigate the behavior of RC Corbels reinforced internally and externally. The verification with experimental work demonstrated a satisfactory agreement in the load-displacement relationship, ultimate load and displacement, and failure mode. The parametric study was implemented which included strengthening the four concrete corbels externally and four corbels internally by a steel plate in many configurations while the remaining three were modeled with varied compressive strength (30, 40, and 50) MPa. The external strengthening included the placing of steel plate externally around the corbel in a U-shaped form and partial strengthening by strips and bottom plate. The models with internal strengthening involved placing the steel plate internally instead of stirrups. The results discovered that the strengthening provided enrichments in the stiffness, ductility, and energy absorption by 37 %, 4 %, and 26 %. In addition, in the case of full external strengthening more than internal retrofitting, there is a maximum improvement in the cracking and ultimate load carrying capacity. The external strengthening was better than internal one due to the confinement effect of the concrete. The stress distribution and crack pattern were affected by the strengthening techniques and more cracks appeared in the corbels with external steel plates.