Rahgozar, N.; Rahgozar, N. Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Flexural Strengthening of Precast Concrete Corbel Connections with Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Sheet. Buildings2024, 14, 387.
Rahgozar, N.; Rahgozar, N. Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Flexural Strengthening of Precast Concrete Corbel Connections with Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Sheet. Buildings 2024, 14, 387.
Rahgozar, N.; Rahgozar, N. Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Flexural Strengthening of Precast Concrete Corbel Connections with Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Sheet. Buildings2024, 14, 387.
Rahgozar, N.; Rahgozar, N. Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Flexural Strengthening of Precast Concrete Corbel Connections with Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Sheet. Buildings 2024, 14, 387.
Abstract
This paper presents the results of experimental and numerical investigations aimed at enhancing the flexural capacity of Precast Concrete Corbel Beam-Column Connections (PC-CBCC) using Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) sheets. The experimental study primarily focused on assessing the flexural capacity of pinned PC-CBCCs reinforced with FRP layers, comparing them to a moment-resisting connection. A series of half-scale specimens, including three PC-CBCCs with varying FRP configurations, were tested alongside one in-situ concrete fixed connection. The objective was to quantify the ultimate flexural capacity of PC-CBCCs reinforced by FRP sheets. The effects of FRP layer thickness, locations, and potential debonding were examined under unidirectional static tests while applying a constant axial compressive load to the columns and subjecting the beams to lateral loads until fracture. Additionally, a precise finite element model of the PC-CBCCs and a fixed joint was developed and verified to simulate nonlinear static analyses of the connections in ANSYS software. A comprehensive comparison was conducted to determine their responses by employing various FRP configurations and properties. The tests and numerical results demonstrate that wrapping PC-CBCCs with anchored FRPs can transform pin connections into moment-resistant joints. Moreover, critical design parameters such as bond length, thickness, and placement of FRP sheets, along with appropriate mechanical anchorage, are identified to prevent debonding and delamination.
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.