FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF THE FLEXURAL BEHAVIOR OF CORRODED RC BEAMS STRENGTHENED BY CFRP SHEETS

Abstract

In the present study, a series of numerical modeling is performed in order to investigate the structural behavior of corroded reinforced concrete beams externally strengthened to tension area with CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) with the aid of the finite element method adopted. A three-dimensional model employing the nonlinear characteristics of materials (e.g. elasto-plastic material model of steel reinforcement and damaged concrete model due to corrosion, bond stress-slip behavior between steel and concrete in good and deteriorated conditions) is created and validated. The numerical results obtained from the finite element analysis (FEA) are compared with the experimental results for six RC beams with different degrees of corrosion. The accuracy of the finite element models is based on comparison with the experimental curves of load-deflection. Results obtained from FEA showed a good correlation between the predicted residual flexural capacity and experimental results. The parametric study is then conducted to examine the capability of the FE model on assessing the structural behavior of the FRP-strengthened corroded RC beams in various strengthening conditions.