Modelo para calcular a resistência à punção de lajes lisas simétricas reforçadas com fibras de aço

O presente artigo discute a metodologia de um novo modelo para calcular a resistência à punção simétrica de lajes de concreto reforçado com fibras de aço (CRFA). O modelo é fundamentado na teoria da fissura crítica de cisalhamento de Muttoni e seus coautores e na proposta do ModelCode10 para simular o comportamento pós-fissuração do CRFA. O desempenho do modelo é avaliado a partir de um banco de dados (BD), coletado da literatura técnica, que totaliza 154 lajes. Os resultados são avaliados em função da precisão, da dispersão e do nível de conservadorismo, a partir do parâmetro λ=Vexp/Vteo, sendo Vexp e Vteo, respectivamente, os resultados obtidos do BD e do modelo. Finalmente, para confirmar o desempenho do modelo, os seus resultados são comparados a outros 7 modelos da literatura técnica e ambos são classificados segundo o critério modificado de Collins, o Demerit Points Classifications – DPC.

Assessment of the efficiency of prefabricated hybrid composite plates (HCPs) for retrofitting of damaged interior RC beam–column joints

The effectiveness of prefabricated hybrid composite plates (HCPs) as a seismic retrofitting solution for damaged interior RC beam-column joints is experimentally studied. HCP is composed of a thin plate made of strain hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) reinforced with CFRP sheets/laminates. Two full-scale severely damaged interior beam-column joints are retrofitted using two different configurations of HCPs. The effectiveness of these retrofitting solutions mainly in terms of hysteretic response, dissipated energy, degradation of secant stiffness, displacement ductility and failure modes are compared to their virgin states. According to these criteria, both solutions resulted in superior responses regarding the ones registered in their virgin states.

Prestress losses in NSM-CFRP flexurally strengthened RC beams

The use of prestressed near surface mounted fibre reinforced polymers (NSM-FRP) has been long acknowledged to be a suitable approach to strengthen and retrofit existing reinforced concrete structures. The application of a certain amount of prestress to the FRP prior to its installation provides a number of benefits, mainly related to crack width and deflection requisites at serviceability limit state conditions. After transferring the prestress to a structural element, some of the existing cracks can be closed, decreasing the vulnerability of the element to corrosion and, a certain amount of deflection can be recovered due to the introduced negative curvature. However, these benefits can only be assured if the prestress is properly preserved over time. In this context, three series of reinforced concrete beams, in a total of 10 beams, were strengthened with a prestressed carbon FRP laminate (CFRP) and monitored for about 40 days. The data obtained from these tests is in this paper presented and analysed. The observed losses of strain in the CFRP laminate were found to be mainly located in the extremities of the bonded length, while in the central zone most of the initial strain was well-preserved over time. Additionally, the highest CFRP strain losses were observed in the first 6 to 12 days after prestress transfer, suggesting that the benefits of prestressed NSM-FRP will not be considerably lost over time.

Flexural strengthening of RC beams using hybrid composite plate (HCP): experimental and analytical study

Hybrid Composite Plate (HCP) is a reliable recently proposed retrofitting solution for concrete structures, which is composed of a strain hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) plate reinforced with Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP). This system benefits from the synergetic advantages of these two composites, namely the high ductility of SHCC and the high tensile strength of CFRPs. In the materialstructural of HCP, the ultra-ductile SHCC plate acts as a suitable medium for stress transfer between CFRP laminates (bonded into the pre-sawn grooves executed on the SHCC plate) and the concrete substrate by means of a connection system made by either chemical anchors, adhesive, or a combination thereof. In comparison with traditional applications of FRP systems, HCP is a retrofitting solution that (i) is less susceptible to the detrimental effect of the lack of strength and soundness of the concrete cover in the strengthening effectiveness; (ii) assures higher durability for the strengthened elements and higher protection to the FRP component in terms of high temperatures and vandalism; and (iii) delays, or even, prevents detachment of concrete substrate. This paper describes the experimental program carried out, and presents and discusses the relevant results obtained on the assessment of the performance of HCP strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beams subjected to flexural loading. Moreover, an analytical approach to estimate the ultimate flexural capacity of these beams is presented, which was complemented with a numerical strategy for predicting their load-deflection behaviour. By attaching HCP to the beams’ soffit, a significant increase in the flexural capacity at service, at yield initiation of the tension steel bars and at failure of the beams can be achieved, while satisfactory deflection ductility is assured and a high tensile capacity of the CFRP laminates is mobilized. Both analytical and numerical approaches have predicted with satisfactory agreement, the load-deflection response of the reference beam and the strengthened ones tested experimentally.

A FEM-based model to study the behaviour of corroded RC beams shear repaired by NSM CFRP rods technique

This paper presents the main features of finite element FE numerical model developed using the computer code FEMIX to predict the near-surface mounted NSM carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer CFRP rods shear repair contribution to corroded reinforced concrete RC beams. In the RC beams shear repaired with NSM technique, the Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) rods are placed inside pre-cut grooves onto the concrete cover of the RC beam’s lateral faces and are bonded to the concrete with high epoxy adhesive. Experimental and 3D numerical modelling results are presented in this paper in terms of load-deflection curves, failure modes and slip information of the tensile steel bars for 4 short corroded beams: two corroded beams (A1CL3-B and A1CL3-SB) and two control beams (A1T-B and A1T-SB), the beams noted with B were let repaired in bending only with NSM CFRP rods while the ones noted with SB were repaired in both bending and shear with NSM technique. The corrosion of the tensile steel bars and its effect on the shear capacity of the RC beams was discussed. Results showed that the FE model was able to capture the main aspects of the experimental load-deflection curves of the RC beams, moreover it has presented the experimental failure modes and FE numerical modelling crack patterns and both gave similar results for non-shear repaired beams which failed in diagonal tension mode of failure and for shear-repaired beams which failed due to large flexural crack at the middle of the beams along with the concrete crushing, three dimensional crack patterns were produced for shear-repaired beams in order to investigate the splitting cracks occurred at the middle of the beams and near the support.

Tensile creep of a structural epoxy adhesive: experimental and analytical characterization

Epoxy adhesives are nowadays being extensively used in Civil Engineering applications, mostly in the scope of the rehabilitation of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. In this context, epoxy adhesives are used to provide adequate stress transference from fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) to the surrounding concrete substrate. Most recently, the possibility of using prestressed FRPs bonded with these epoxy adhesives is also being explored in order to maximize the potentialities of this strengthening approach. In this context, the understanding of the long term behaviour of the involved materials becomes essential. Even when non-prestressed FRPs are used a certain amount of stress is permanently applied on the adhesive interface during the serviceability conditions of the strengthened structure, and the creep of the adhesive may cause a continuous variation in the deformational response of the element. In this context, this paper presents a study aiming to experimentally characterize the tensile creep behaviour of an epoxy-based adhesive currently used in the strengthening of concrete structures with carbon FRP (CFRP) systems. To analytically describe the tensile creep behaviour, the modified Burgers model was fitted to the experimental creep curves, and the obtained results revealed that this model is capable of predicting with very good accuracy the long term behaviour of this material up to a sustained stress level of 60% of the adhesive’s tensile strength.

Comportamento de lajes de betão armado pré-fendilhadas e reforçadas à flexão com laminados de CFRP inseridos pré-tensionados

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Civil

L'ús de materials compostos en el reforç intern d'estructures de formigó

L’ús de materials compostos de matriu polimèrica (FRP, Fibre Reinforced Polymer) en el reforç intern d'estructures de formigó

Effect of curing temperature , fibre loading and bonding agent on the equilibrium swelling of isora-natural rubbercomposites

Isora fibre-reinforced natural rubber (NR) composites were cured at 80, 100, 120 and 150°C using a low temperature curing accelerator system. Composites were also prepared using a conventional accelerator system and cured at 150°C. The swelling behavior of these composites at varying fibre loadings was studied in toluene and hexane. Results show that the uptake of solvent and volume fraction of rubber due to swelling was lower for the low temperature cured vulcanizates which is an indication of the better fibre/rubber adhesion. The uptake of aromatic solvent was higher than that of aliphatic solvent, for all the composites. As the fibre content increased, the solvent uptake decreased, due to the superior solvent resistance of the fibre and good fibre-rubber interactions. The bonding agent improved the swelling resistance of the composites due to the strong interfacial adhesion. Due to the improved adhesion between the fibre and rubber, the ratio of the change in volume fraction of rubber due to swelling to the volume fraction of rubber in the dry sample (V,) was found to decrease in the presence of bonding agent. At a fixed fibre loading, the alkali treated fibre composite showed a lower percentage swelling than untreated one for both systems showing superior rubber-fibre interactions.

Ein Beitrag zur realitätsnahen Modellierung und Analyse von stahlfaserverstärkten Stahlbeton- und Stahlbetonflächentragwerken

Das Werkstoffverhalten von stahlfaserfreiem bzw. stahlfaserverstärktem Stahlbeton unter biaxialle Druck- Zugbeanspruchung wurde experimentell und theoretisch untersucht. Die Basis der experimentellen Untersuchungen waren zahlreiche Versuche, die in der Vergangenheit an faserfreiem Stahlbetonscheiben zur Bestimmung des Werkstoffverhaltens von gerissenem Stahlbeton im ebenen Spannungszustand durchgeführt wurden. Bei diesen Untersuchungen wurde festgestellt, dass infolge einer Querzugbeanspruchung eine Abminderung der biaxialen Druckfestigkeit entsteht. Unter Berücksichtigung dieser Erkenntnisse sind zur Verbesserung der Werkstoffeigenschaften des Betons, Stahlbetonscheiben aus stahlfaserverstärktem Beton hergestellt worden. Die aus der Literatur bekannten Werkstoffmodelle für Beton sowie Stahlbeton, im ungerissenen und gerissenen Zustand wurden hinsichtlich der in der Vergangenheit ermittelten Materialeigenschaften des Betons bzw. Stahlbetons unter proportionalen sowie nichtproportionalen äußeren Belastungen erklärt und kritisch untersucht. In den frischen Beton wurden Stahlfasern hinzugegeben. Dadurch konnte die Festigkeits- und die Materialsteifigkeitsabminderung infolge Rissbildung, die zur Schädigung des Verbundwerkstoffs Beton führt, reduziert werden. Man konnte sehen, dass der Druckfestigkeitsabminderungsfaktor und insbesondere die zur maximal aufnehmbaren Zylinderdruckfestigkeit gehörende Stauchung, durch Zugabe von Stahlfasern besser begrenzt wird. Die experimentelle Untersuchungen wurden an sechs faserfreien und sieben stahlfaserverstärkten Stahlbetonscheiben unter Druck-Zugbelastung zur Bestimmung des Verhaltens des gerissenen faserfreien und stahlfaserverstärkten Stahlbetons durchgeführt. Die aus eigenen Versuchen ermittelten Materialeigenschaften des Betons, des stahlfaserverstärkten Betons und Stahlbetons im gerissenen Zustand wurden dargelegt und diskutiert. Bei der Rissbildung des quasi- spröden Werkstoffs Beton und dem stahlfaserverstärkten Beton wurde neben dem plastischen Fließen, auch die Abnahme des Elastizitätsmoduls festgestellt. Die Abminderung der aufnehmbaren Festigkeit und der zugehörigen Verzerrung lässt sich nicht mit der klassischen Fließtheorie der Plastizität ohne Modifizierung des Verfestigungsgesetzes erfassen. Es wurden auf elasto-plastischen Werkstoffmodellen basierende konstitutive Beziehungen für den faserfreien sowie den stahlfaserverstärkten Beton vorgeschlagen. Darüber hinaus wurde in der vorliegenden Arbeit eine auf dem elasto-plastischen Werkstoffmodell basierende konstitutive Beziehung für Beton und den stahlfaser-verstärkten Beton im gerissenen Zustand formuliert. Die formulierten Werkstoffmodelle wurden mittels dem in einer modularen Form aufgebauten nichtlinearen Finite Elemente Programm DIANA zu numerischen Untersuchungen an ausgewählten experimentell untersuchten Flächentragwerken, wie scheibenartigen-, plattenartigen- und Schalentragwerken aus faserfreiem sowie stahlfaserverstärktem Beton verwendet. Das entwickelte elasto-plastische Modell ermöglichte durch eine modifizierte effektive Spannungs-Verzerrungs-Beziehung für das Verfestigungsmodell, nicht nur die Erfassung des plastischen Fließens sondern auch die Berücksichtigung der Schädigung der Elastizitätsmodule infolge Mikrorissen sowie Makrorissen im Hauptzugspannungs-Hauptdruckspannungs-Bereich. Es wurde bei den numerischen Untersuchungen zur Ermittlung des Last-Verformungsverhaltens von scheibenartigen, plattenartigen- und Schalentragwerken aus faserfreiem und stahlfaserverstärktem Stahlbeton, im Vergleich mit den aus Versuchen ermittelten Ergebnissen, eine gute Übereinstimmung festgestellt.

Rissbildung und Zugtragverhalten von mit Stabstahl und Fasern bewehrtem Ultrahochfesten Beton (UHPC)

Ultrahochfester Beton (UHPC) ist ein sehr gefügedichter zementgebundener Werkstoff, der sich nicht nur durch eine hohe Druckfestigkeit, sondern auch durch einen hohen Widerstand gegen jede Form physikalischen oder chemischen Angriffs auszeichnet. Duktiles Nachbruchverhalten bei Druckversagen wird meist durch die Zugabe dünner kurzer Fasern erreicht. In Kombination mit konventioneller Betonstahl- oder Spannbewehrung ermöglicht UHPC die Ausführung sehr schlanker, weitgespannter Konstruktionen und eröffnet zugleich neue Anwendungsgebiete, wie zum Beispiel die flächenhafte Beschichtung von Brückendecks. Durch das Zusammenwirken kontinuierlicher Bewehrungselemente und diskontinuierlich verteilter kurzer Fasern ergeben sich unter Zugbeanspruchung Unterschiede gegenüber dem bekannten Stahl- und Spannbeton. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird hierzu ein Modell entwickelt und durch eine umfangreiche Versuchsreihe abgesichert. Ausgangspunkt sind experimentelle und theoretische Untersuchungen zum Verbundverhalten von Stabstählen in einer UHPC-Matrix und zum Einfluss einer Faserzugabe auf das Reiß- und Zugtragverhalten von UHPC. Die Modellbildung für UHPC-Zugelemente mit gemischter Bewehrung aus Stabstahl und Fasern erfolgt auf der Grundlage der Vorgänge am diskreten Riss, die daher sehr ausführlich behandelt werden. Für den elastischen Verformungsbereich der Stabbewehrung (Gebrauchslastbereich) kann damit das Last-Verformungs-Verhalten für kombiniert bewehrte Bauteile mechanisch konsistent unter Berücksichtigung des bei UHPC bedeutsamen hohen Schwindmaßes abgebildet werden. Für die praktische Anwendung wird durch Vereinfachungen ein Näherungsverfahren abgeleitet. Sowohl die theoretischen als auch die experimentellen Untersuchungen bestätigen, dass der faserbewehrte UHPC bei Kombination mit kontinuierlichen Bewehrungselementen selbst kein verfestigendes Verhalten aufweisen muss, um insgesamt verfestigendes Verhalten und damit eine verteilte Rissbildung mit sehr keinen Rissbreiten und Rissabständen zu erzielen. Diese Beobachtungen können mit Hilfe der bisher zur Verfügung stehenden Modelle, die im Wesentlichen eine Superposition isoliert ermittelter Spannungs-Dehnungs-Beziehungen des Faserbetons und des reinen Stahls vorsehen, nicht nachvollzogen werden. Wie die eigenen Untersuchungen zeigen, kann durch ausreichend dimensionierte Stabstahlbewehrung zielgerichtet und ohne unwirtschaftlich hohe Fasergehalte ein gutmütiges Verhalten von UHPC auf Zug erreicht werden. Die sichere Begrenzung der Rissbreiten auf deutlich unter 0,1 mm gewährleistet zugleich die Dauerhaftigkeit auch bei ungünstigen Umgebungsbedingungen. Durch die Minimierung des Material- und Energieeinsatzes und die zu erwartende lange Nutzungsdauer lassen sich so im Sinne der Nachhaltigkeit optimierte Bauteile realisieren.

Design, testing, and simulation of fibre composite leaf springs for heavy axle loads

This paper summarizes the design, manufacturing, testing, and finite element analysis (FEA) of glass-fibre-reinforced polyester leaf springs for rail freight vehicles. FEA predictions of load-deflection curves under static loading are presented, together with comparisons with test results. Bending stress distribution at typical load conditions is plotted for the springs. The springs have been mounted on a real wagon and drop tests at tare and full load have been carried out on a purpose-built shaker rig. The transient response of the springs from tests and FEA is presented and discussed.

Impact properties of glass/plant fibre hybrid laminates

The use of plants fibre reinforced composites has continuously increased during recent years. Their low density, higher environmental friendliness, and reduced cost proved particularly attractive for low-tech applications e.g., in building, automotive and leisure time industry. However, a major limitation to the use of these materials in structural components is unsatisfactory impact performance. An intermediate approach, the production of glass/ plant fibre hybrid laminates, has also been explored, trying to obtain materials with sufficient impact properties, whilst retaining a reduced cost and a substantial environmental gain. A survey is given on some aspects, crucial for the use of glass/plant fibre hybrid laminates in structural components: performance of hybrids when subjected to impact testing; the effect of laminate configuration, manufacturing procedure and fibre treatment on impact properties of the composite. Finally, indications are provided for a suitable selection of plant fibres with minimal extraction damage and sufficient toughness, for introduction in an impact-resistant glass/plant fibre hybrid laminate.

Distributed water ingress and water potential measurements using fibre optics

We report on a distributed moisture detection scheme which uses a cable design based on waterswellable hydrogel polymers. The cable modulates the loss characteristic of light guided within a multi-mode optical fibre in response to relative water potentials in the surrounding environment. Interrogation of the cable using conventional optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) instruments allows water ingress points to be identified and located with a spatial resolution of 50 cm. The system has been tested in a simulated tendon duct grouting experiment as a means of mapping the extent of fill along the duct during the grouting process. Voided regions were detected and identified to within 50 cm. A series of salt solutions has been used to determine the sensor behaviour over a range of water potentials. These experiments predict that measurements of soil moisture content can be made over the range 0 to – 1500 kPa. Preliminary data on soil measurements have shown that the sensor can detect water pressure changes with a resolution of 45 kPa. Applications for the sensor include quality assurance of grouting procedures, verification of waterproofing barriers and soil moisture content determination (for load-bearing calculations).

Um modelo analítico e computacional para consideração de efeitos de envelhecimento em estruturas de material compósito

Os materiais compósitos reforçados por fibras apresentam vantagens quando comparados aos materiais de construção mais tradicionais como concreto e aço. Por outro lado, devido ao fato destes materiais serem relativamente recentes no mercado, questões a respeito de sua durabilidade são ainda objeto de discussão e faz-se necessária intensa pesquisa sobre o envelhecimento dos compósitos. Como conseqüência, recentemente têm surgido inúmeros trabalhos à respeito da degradação dos compósitos considerando efeitos como temperatura, oxidação, radiação UV, condições de carregamento, etc. A maioria destas pesquisas, no entanto, são realizadas a nível de material e não são diretamente aplicáveis à situações de projeto. Desta forma, existe grande demanda por novos estudos e dados compatíveis com aplicações estruturais. Neste trabalho apresenta-se um modelo analítico-numérico adequado para, interpretação e aplicação destes dados experimentais em análise e projeto de estrutural. A formulação proposta inclui relações constitutivas elásticas anisotrópicas com envelhecimento, relações constitutivas viscoelásticas anisotrópicas com envelhecimento em termos de variáveis de estado, análise de falhas com critério de degradação ajustado à idade do material e considera-se grandes deslocamentos e pequenas deformações. As diferenças essenciais entre os processos de envelhecimento em endurecimento e amolecimento são descritos juntamente com as relações constitutivas para cada caso. Estas equações são deduzidas na forma adequada para análise numérica via método dos elementos finitos usando uma solução incremental-iterativa com consideração de efeitos pos-críticos. Vários exemplos são apresentados, incluindo análises elásticas, viscoelásticas e de falha com envelhecimento.