Numerical Simulation of Anchorage Performance of GFRP Bolt and Concrete

Abstract

We conducted anchoring performance, stress distribution, and full-scale indoor pulling tests on glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bolts. The tests were conducted using finite element software while considering the multi-interface contact and BK criterion by using the cohesive element to simulate the contact relations between the anchor rod body and concrete and building an axial symmetry calculation model of the GRFP bolt and concrete. The results indicated that the finite element model based on cohesive element accurately represents the load–displacement relationship of the GFRP bolt and the distribution law of axial stress along the anchoring length. In addition, the simulation outcomes of the load–displacement relationship were in good agreement with the measured test values. Under the same load, the axial-force-transferred depth of the bolt body was identical regardless of the anchorage length. As anchoring length increases, the pull load on the bolt and the decay rate of axial stress along the anchoring length rises gradually. There is a critical value for the anchorage length of the bolt.