Mohamed A.H. Khedr
Asst. Professor
Steel beams strengthened with prestressed CFRP laminate: is there a need for laminate prestressing?
Electronic Journal of Structural Engineering • 2013
Publication Information
Authors
M. A. Gharib, W. I. Khushefati, M. A. Khedr, and E. Y. Sayed Ahmed
Keywords
Not Available
Journal
Electronic Journal of Structural Engineering
Publisher
Research and Applications in Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation – Zingoni (Ed.) © 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-1-138-00061-2
Volume
16
Issue
1
Pages
53-61
publication.type
International
Paper Link
Not Available
Supplementary Materials
Not Available
Abstract
Strengthening structural members using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminate is
an effective method to increase their strength. Prestressing the CRFP laminate prior to attaching them to a steel
beam can delay the common premature debonding, which is the predominant failure mode when loading such
composite elements in flexure. Following a previously published experimental investigation, this paper presents
the results of a finite element simulation of steel I-beams strengthened with bonded and mechanically anchored
prestressed CFRP laminate subjected to flexural loading. The numerical analysis adopts a Cohesive Zone Model
(CZM) technique to simulate the separation between the CFRP laminate and the steel beam in order to model
the debonding failure mode. The accuracy of the finite element model is verified by comparing its results to
those of the previously published experimental investigation, which was carried out on steel I-beams strengthened
with prestressed CFRP laminate in deferent configurations. The numerical model is then used to evaluate
the effect of changing the level of the prestressing force on the strengthened beams performance. It is found
that the CFRP prestressing enhances the yield and ultimate load carrying capacity of the beams and delays the
typical premature debonding failure up to a certain level of laminate prestressing.
an effective method to increase their strength. Prestressing the CRFP laminate prior to attaching them to a steel
beam can delay the common premature debonding, which is the predominant failure mode when loading such
composite elements in flexure. Following a previously published experimental investigation, this paper presents
the results of a finite element simulation of steel I-beams strengthened with bonded and mechanically anchored
prestressed CFRP laminate subjected to flexural loading. The numerical analysis adopts a Cohesive Zone Model
(CZM) technique to simulate the separation between the CFRP laminate and the steel beam in order to model
the debonding failure mode. The accuracy of the finite element model is verified by comparing its results to
those of the previously published experimental investigation, which was carried out on steel I-beams strengthened
with prestressed CFRP laminate in deferent configurations. The numerical model is then used to evaluate
the effect of changing the level of the prestressing force on the strengthened beams performance. It is found
that the CFRP prestressing enhances the yield and ultimate load carrying capacity of the beams and delays the
typical premature debonding failure up to a certain level of laminate prestressing.