Experimental research and numerical simulation of RC beams strengthened with bonded steel plates

Abstract

It is a common method to strengthen the damaged RC structures with bonded steel plates. At present the ultimate bearing capacity of RC structures strengthened with bonded steel plates is calculated mostly using the theory based on the test. Four beams, including one reference beam, two strengthened concrete beams in primary force and secondary force respectively, and one strengthened concrete beam which was not anchored enough, were tested under four-point bending (4PB) in order to get the data of strain of longitudinal bars, bonded bottom steel plate in tension and deflection of beams in the middle span. The experimental program was supported by a three-dimensioned finite analysis using ABAQUS. At the end of experiments and finite analysis, it is concluded that the investing strengthening technique can significantly improve the load-carrying capacity and the phenomenon of stress concentration at the end of interface, as well as the damage at interface, can be well simulated with cohesive element provided by ABAQUS.