This study computationally investigates to examine the impacts of repeated loading on L-shaped spandrel beams made of reinforced concrete, which were strengthened by externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced plastic sheets. The object of the research is to evaluate the following three aspects of structural behavior: degradation of reaction forces, evolution of inertia forces, and residual performance. Ayad and Oukaili's experimental impact-loading program, which featured midspan drop-weight loading on RC spandrel beams before and after strengthening, was used to validate a comprehensive three-dimensional finite element model created in ABAQUS. A sequence of 25 impacts before and 25 impacts after CFRP application was simulated to trace impact force, reaction force, inertia force, midspan deflection, and damage progression. Because of cumulative stiffness deterioration, the peak impact force in the unstrengthened beams reduced by 45%, the reaction force decreased by 54.7–57.3%, and the inertia force increased by 237.5–1090%. The peak impact force decline was limited to 31.8% with CFRP strengthening, whereas the reaction force reduction varied from 36.9% to 39%. In comparison to the much greater amplification seen prior to strengthening, the rise in inertia forces was also much reduced, staying between 114.6 and 122.2%. Additionally, there was a 19.2–23.2% decrease in the midspan deflection at the 25th impact. After 25 impacts, CFRP-strengthened beams maintained 68.3–70% of their initial capacity, but unstrengthened beams only maintained 56.2–60.1%, according to the residual performance index (RPI), which showed a notable improvement. Concrete had saturated tensile cracking prior to strengthening, according to damage analysis, but matrix microcracking (HSNMTCRT) without fiber tensile damage (DAMAGEFT) dominated post-retrofit behavior, indicating the efficient confinement and energy-dissipating function of CFRP. These results extend the previous experimental interpretation by quantifying repeated-impact trends in reaction and inertia forces, and show that externally bonded CFRP sheets improve the service-life performance of reinforced concrete ledged beams by enhancing stiffness retention, energy dissipation, inertial stability, and damage control.
This research is devoted to investigate the behavior and performance of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with externally bonded Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminates under the effect of torsion. In this study a theoretical analysis has been conducted using finite element code ANSYS. Six previously tested beams are used to investigate reinforced concrete beams behavior
under torsion, two of them are solid and the rest are box-section beams. Also, two beams are without CFRP reinforcement, which are used as control beams for the strengthened one, and the other four beams are strengthened with CFRP laminates with different number of layers and spacing. Numerical investigation is conducted on these beams, and comparisons b
This research presents an experimental investigation of the rehabilitation efficiency of the damaged hybrid reinforced concrete beams with openings in the shear region. The study investigates the difference in retrofitting ability of hybrid beams compared to traditional beams and the effect of two openings compared with one opening equalized to two holes in the area. Five RC beams classified into two groups, A and B, were primarily tested to full-failure under two-point loads. The first group (A) contained beams with normal weight concrete. The second group (hybrid) included beams with lightweight concrete for web and bottom flange, whereas the top flange was made from normal concrete. Two types of openings were considered in this s
... Show MoreIn most Reinforced Concrete (RC) buildings, the cross-section size of rectangular columns that conventionally used in these structures is larger than the thickness of their partitions. Consequently, a part of the column is protruded out of the wall which has some architectural disadvantages. Reducing the column size by using high strength concrete will result in slender column, thus the stability problem may be occurred. The stability problem is difficult to be overcome with rectangular columns. This paper study the effectiveness of using new types of columns called Specially Shaped Reinforced Concrete (SSRC) columns. Besides, the use of SSRC columns provides many structural advantage
In this study, the effect of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) section and compressive strength of concrete in composite beams under static and low velocity impact loads was examined. Modeling was performed and the obtained results were compared with the test results and their compatibility was evaluated. Experimental tests of four composite beams were carried out, where two of them are control specimen with 20 MPa compressive strength of concrete deck slab and 50 MPa for other. Bending characteristics were affected by the strength of concrete under impact loading case, as it increased maximum impact force and damping time at a ratio of 59% and reduced the damping ratio by 47% compared to the reference hybrid beam. Under stat
... Show MoreThe idea of using slender Reinforced Concrete (RC) columns with cross-shaped (+-shaped) instead of columns with square-shaped was discussed in this paper. The use of +-shaped columns provides many architectural and structural advantages, such as avoiding prominent columns edges and improved the structural response of member. Therefore, this study explores the structural response of slender +-shaped columns experimentally and numerically by nonlinear finite element analysis using Abaqus simulation tools. The results showed an excellent convergence in strength between numerical and test results with an average standard deviation of 0.05 and 0.07. Besides that, the use of +-shaped column
The use of external posttensioning technique for strengthening reinforced concrete girders has been considerably studied by many researchers worldwide. However, no available data are seen regarding strengthening full-scale composite prestressed concrete girders with external posttensioned technique under static and repeated loading. In this research, four full-scale composite prestressed I-shape girders of 16 m span were fabricated and tested under static and repeated loading up to failure. Accordingly, two girders were externally strengthened with posttensioned strands, while the other two girders were left without strengthening. The experimental tests include deflection, cracking load, ultimate strength and strains at midspan, a
... Show MoreThis experimental research was conducted to quantify the combined effect of the external bonded Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) plate width and prestressing on the flexural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams in terms of strength improvement. Seven beams (one control and six strengthened) were subjected to two-point loading tests. The experimental methodology consisted of the testing of three different widths of the CFRP plates (25, 40, and 60 mm) in non-prestressed and prestressed conditions. Prestressing was accomplished by tensioning the plates to 23% of the CFRP tensile strength using a novel, locally developed mechanical anchorage system, which is one of the key experimental contributions that distinguishes thi
... Show MoreUnder-reamed piles defined by having one or more bulbs have the potential for sizeable major sides over conventional straight-sided piles, most of the studies on under-reamed piles have been conducted on the experimental side, while theoretical studies, such as the finite element method, have been mainly confined to conventional straight-sided piles. On the other hand, although several laboratory and experimental studies have been conducted to study the behavior of under-reamed piles, few numerical studies have been carried out to simulate the piles' performance. In addition, there is no research to compare and evaluate the behavior of these piles under dynamic loading. Therefore, this study aimed to numerically investigate bearing capaci
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