Experimental and FEM Analysis of Hybrid Composite Structures with GFRP Elements

Abstract

This paper informs about the results of research in the field of hybrid composite structures with GFRP element. The first part presents some results of push tests on hybrid composite girders of the “I” shape with reinforced concrete flanges and GFRP wall. The concrete dowels and contact surface roughening were used to arrange the connection between concrete and GFRP wall. The 3 specimens of composite girders and the 2 comparative concrete girders were tested. The incremental short-term bending load tests were performed and compared to FEM analysis on 3D models in ATENA system. Some results are presented in the second part of the paper. Sufficient coincidence of the load response between the test results and numerical simulations of hybrid girders was recorded. The exceeding of the concrete dowel resistance has been observed and it seems to be the main reason of the composite girder bending failure. However, the global resistance of composite girder was higher than the comparative RC girders. Higher concrete strength contributed to the global resistance increasing due to higher resistance of concrete dowels, which allowed better utilization of GFRP wall bending resistance of hybrid structure.