Date of Award

10-11-2019

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.Sc.

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Keywords

BFRP fabric, Damage models, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Finite Element Modelling, Flexural Strengthening, Reinforced concrete modelling

Supervisor

Nader Zamani

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The increasing cost of new infrastructure in addition to the gradual decline in the structural integrity of current aging infrastructure has necessitated studies for sustainable materials for strengthening concrete structures. Extensive experimental and numerical studies using carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) for strengthening concrete structures have concluded on their immense efficiency in increasing the ultimate capacity of such structures. Basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP), however, is a relatively new material in the construction industry with limited experimental and numerical studies. This study presents a non-linear numerical analysis on reinforced concrete beams strengthened with basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) fabrics using finite element (FE) software, Abaqus. The load-deflection behavior, failure modes, ductility index and cracking patterns of the beams were analysed and compared to experimental results obtained from literature. The FE model was observed to have a good correlation with the test results and was able to predict the elastic and plastic behavior of the concrete beams. The results of the FE analysis indicate that BFRP fabrics were able to increase the load capacity of the strengthened beams up to 120% and the ductility up to 67% over the control beam. However, the strengthening scheme must remain within the optimum number of layers to ensure that the beams do not experience sudden and brittle failure.

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