Development of rectangular hybrid-stiffened-plate structural system with fibre-reinforced polymer fabric composite in tension zone

Abstract

Reinforced concrete plates stiffened by the beams in the orthogonal directions are widely used in bridges and buildings. Local failure occurs due to stiff beams whereas shallow beams cause global collapse failure in the plate. A theoretical model using inelastic analysis (yield line analysis) has been formulated to predict the behaviour of the rectangular hybrid-reinforced concrete-stiffened-plate system which recognized the benefits of different types of fibre-reinforced polymer fabric and ferrocement in tension side. Parametric study was also conducted to capture the influence of different parameters such as number of panels, plate aspect ratio and beam strength parameter on the flexural capacity of plate system. Designer can select the proportionate hybrid-stiffened-plate system which fails globally to avoid negative yield lines through design chart. In the experimental study, four rectangular hybrid-stiffened-plate structural systems were developed with two internal beams in each perpendicular direction incorporating ferrocement and unidirectional carbon fibre–reinforced polymer fabric, unidirectional basalt fibre–reinforced polymer fabric and bidirectional glass fibre–reinforced polymer fabric sheet on the bottom side. The experimental ultimate load was recorded maximum in unidirectional carbon hybrid–stiffened-plate system, however, unidirectional basalt hybrid–stiffened-plate system gave the best performance with respect to the cost analysis. The numerical analysis had a reasonable consistency with experimental and analytical results.