Reinforced concrete deep beam shear retrofitted with deep embedded bars: A numerical investigation

Abstract

A two-dimensional finite element (FE) model of a deep beam retrofitted with deep embedded (DE) bars is presented in this research. The proposed FE model was validated with published experimental results for the prediction of cracking patterns, failure modes, and load–deflection responses. Two non-retrofitted and one retrofitted deep beam selected from two published literature were modeled using VecTor2 software. One of the above beams is converted in to the shear deficient beam by reducing the shear reinforcement ratio. The beam is then shear strengthened with DE bars to investigate the effect of the DE bars on the structural behavior. Two types of DE bars, such as glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) and steel bars, were considered in this study with the varying bars to stirrup ratios. All the shear deficient beams with above DE bars to stirrup ratios exhibited the characteristic diagonal crack spreading from the loading point to the support indicating shear failure of the beams. It was observed that the shear strength of the retrofitted beams with steel DE bars has shown the improvement in shear strength in the range 17.21%−29.66% over the control beam. Similarly, the shear strength of GFRP DE bars has improved by 21.57%-35.61% as compared to the control one.