Ultra high performance concrete and C-FRP tension Re-bars: A unique combinations of materials for slabs subjected to low-velocity drop impact loading

Abstract

In this research work, different combinations of normal strength concrete (NSC), ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), and steel fiber-reinforced UHPC (SFR-UHPC) concrete with re-bars of conventional steel and of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (C-FRP) are used in a two-way square slab of size 1000mm x 1000mm x 75mm subjected to 2500 mm free-fall impact loading. Experimental arrangement consisting of 105 kg dropping weight with the circular flat impacting face of 40 mm diameter used for carrying out impact test is modeled using a high-fidelity physics-based finite element computer code, ABAQUS/Explicit-v.6.15. After validating the experimental results of the NSC slab with steel bars, analyses are extended by replacing NSC and steel bars with UHPC/SFR-UHPC and C-FRP bars, respectively, under the same dropping weight. Only the remote face (tension face) of the slabs is provided with the re-bars. Widely employed and available with the ABAQUS, the Concrete Damage Plasticity model with strain-rate effects has been entrusted for simulating the concrete plastic response. Re-bars of steel are idealized with the Johnson-Cook plasticity damage model. C-FRP re-bars are defined with the classical plasticity model following the elastic-plastic constitutive laws. The impact responses of the slabs consisting of NSC/UHPC/SFR-UHPC concrete with re-bars of steel, and C-FRP combinations considered are discussed and compared. Slabs made of UHPC/SFR-UHPC concrete with the C-FRP re-bars are found to offer a promising combination of materials to withstand low-velocity impact load with little damage and extraordinary impact performance.

Widely Employed Constitutive Material Models in Abaqus FEA Software Suite for Simulations of Structures and Their Materials: A Brief Review

“…Note that the TIE constraint does not have the feature of simulating the rupture of CFRP. Many researchers [30,33,52,[56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63]] have adopted the same strategy to define CFRP-exposed face interface/connection.…”

Effect of Impactor's Taper Angle on the Response of a Square Slab to a Falling Mass

“…Another method involves the utilization of an analytical technique that incorporates mass spring systems [20]. Alternatively, the third approach entails the application of a numerical method such as the finite element method (FEM) [21][22][23][24][25]. In this paper, the third approach, the FEM, is utilized to study the anti-impact response of the slab.…”

Quantifying the Residual Stiffness of Concrete Beams with Polymeric Reinforcement under Repeated Loads

“…Studies by Rimkus et al [ 21 ] and Gribniak et al [ 22 ] have shown that combining FRPs with steel reinforcement effectively addresses engineering challenges. Anas et al [ 23 ] investigated the structural performance of square slab specimens reinforced with different types of FRPs, and they found that samples with CFRP bars exhibited exceptional impact resistance. Using a four-point bending test, Yuan et al [ 24 ] examined the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with GFRP tubes.…”