Shear strengthening of reinforced concrete beams using prefabricated ultra‐high performance fiber reinforced concrete plates: Experimental and numerical investigation

Abstract

This paper presents the efficiency of using prefabricated ultra‐high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) plates in shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams experimentally and numerically using finite element method. In order to ensure high quality and facilitate the strengthening process on site applications, it has been considered to apply UHPFRC as a plate pasted on concrete surface using epoxy. Tested specimens included four strengthened beams besides three control beams. Strengthening the RC beams was based on the use of two different techniques; (a) one longitudinal side strengthening (b) two longitudinal sides strengthening. Moreover, strengthening RC beams with reinforced or non‐reinforced prefabricated UHPFRC plates was also investigated. Results show that UHPFRC plates significantly increased the maximum load capacity, ductility and mid span reinforcement strain of the strengthened RC beams comparing with reference beam failed in shear. Also, steel connectors used in reinforcement of UHPFRC plates prevented debonding failure mode. A three‐dimensional (3D) finite element model (FEM) of the tested beams was also developed to predict the behavior of these specimens strengthened in shear. The adhesive layer was simulated using cohesive surface model to consider the slippage between concrete surface and UHPFRC plates. Results of the FEM showed good agreement with experimental results, as they were able to predict the behavior of the beams with high accuracy.

Structural Strengthening/Repair of Reinforced Concrete (RC) Beams by Different Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Materials - A State-of-the-Art Review

“…In addition, the authors numerically investigated the tested beams and considered nonlinear FEM software of ABAQUS. It was reported by the numerical study that a good agreement between experimental and FEM results was detected, and it was documented that FEM is able to obtain the best-fitted shear behaviors (load-deflection curve, peak load, cracking pattern) of the RC beams [49].…”

Shear Behaviour of RC Beams Strengthened by Various Ultrahigh Performance Fibre‐Reinforced Concrete Systems

“…(ii) Tensile damage parameter (d t ): e reinforcement steel was modelled using elastic-perfectly plastic material, as suggested in [23]. e relationship between the reinforcement steel and concrete was modelled as a perfect bond (embedded region, whereas the concrete was the host element).…”

“…Shear failure is unfavourable for engineers because of its sudden occurrence with a brittle failure mode, and many studies have focused on improving the capacity and ductility of RC beams strengthened in shear with UHPFRC [13,[18][19][20][21][22]. Sakr et al [23] proposed a 3D finite element model (FEM) to investigate the behaviour of RC beams strengthened in shear with prefabricated UHPFRC plates by using (a) one longitudinal vertical-side strengthening and (b) two longitudinal vertical-side strengthening. ey concluded that the prefabricated UHPFRC plates could significantly enhance the ultimate load carrying capacity, ductility, and strain of longitudinal reinforcement in the strengthened RC beams compared with the control beam failed in shear.…”

Mechanical Properties and Shrinkage of Ultrahigh‐Performance Concrete Containing Lithium Carbonate and Nano‐Calcium Carbonate

“…For instance, it can greatly reduce the weight of bridges and improve durability in bridge engineering [7,8]. It can also be used in restoration projects, such as repairing bridge deck defects [9,10], repairing bridge piers [11,12], repairing anticollision layers [13], dams [14], and repairing tunnels [15,16]. Nonetheless, whilst the early strength develops slowly under normal temperature curing conditions, UHPC needs a hightemperature curing condition to obtain ultrahigh performance and high early strength.…”