Kraków, Poland, 2011

ANALYSIS OF MODELLED DISCONTINOUS BOND IN RC BEAM

STRENGTHENED BY CFRP PLATE UNDER EQUAL LOAD

Ana TROMBEVA-GAVRILOSKA Јаnа ŠELIH

Assistant Professor Associated Professor
Faculty of Architecture Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering,
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Skopje, Macedonia jana.selih@fgg.uni-lj.si
agavriloska@arh.ukim.edu.mk
Meri CVETKOVSKA Todorka SAMARDZIOSKA
Associated Professor Assistant Professor
Faculty of Civil Engineering Faculty of Civil Engineering
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in
Skopje, Macedonia Skopje, Macedonia
cvetkovska@gf.ukim.edu.mk samardzioska@gf.ukim.edu.mk
Abstract
Decreasing of the bearing capacity of construction imposes the need of their repair and
strengthening. Typical retrofitting technique involves use of external bonded FRP
reinforcement. One of the problems that can be encountered during the strengthening in the
practice is inadequate execution of the bonding process. This may lead to weakening of the
bond layer and to creating discontinuities zones between reinforced concrete and CFRP plate.
The bond between reinforced concrete beam and CFRP plate in this paper is modelled using a
numerical displacement-based fibber model. Discontinuous bond zone is modelled by
modification in the constitutive law for description of the bond between the reinforced
concrete beam and CFRP plate. Verification of implemented modification is analysed using
bond stress distribution and tensile plate force distribution along the externally strengthened
reinforced concrete beam. Numerical analysis carried out shows that the proposed modelling
of the weak zone is appropriate.

Keywords: CFRP, numerical analysis, reinforced concrete beam, strengthening, weak zone

1. Introduction
Performance of the materials used in the contemporary structures can significantly change as
a result of change in the environmental conditions and the increasing of the loads, which were
not taken into account in the design process. All these factors may decrease the bearing
capacity or structural safety of the construction during their service life. As a consequence,
non adequate performance of the constructions imposes the need for their repair and
strengthening. Increasing the load capacity and structural safety of the flexural loaded
structural members is often carried out by external bonding of additional reinforcement. In the
recent years, typical retrofitting technique involves use of external bonded lighter, stronger
and more durable FRP (fibre reinforced polymer) strips.
In order to achieve successful external strengthening of the reinforced concrete structures by
FRP strips it is required a thorough understanding of the effects that this type of FRP
reinforcement has on beam failure mode. Key role in the failure of the externally strengthened
construction has the bond layer between reinforced surface and FRP strip. Experimental
researches show that the most often type of failure of the strengthened construction, caused
from the maximal shear stresses, is followed by peeling of the FRP strip initiated at the end of
the plate, where concrete is uncracked. Local shear failure is driven by a biaxial tension state
composed by the interfacial stresses and the normal tension induced on concrete by the
flexure [1]. From the theory proposed by Taljsten [2], it can be concluded that for the cases of
sufficiently thin strengthening plates, the influence of the peeling stresses on the principal
stresses is minute and can thus be neglected.
One of the problems that can be encountered during the strengthening of reinforced concrete
structures in the practice is inadequate execution of the bonding process. This may lead to
weakening of the bond layer in some positions along the length of the plate, and to creating
discontinuities within the bond layer.
In order to determine properly with adequate accuracy the bearing capacity of the reinforced
concrete structure strengthened with externally added FRP reinforcement must be used a
model, which can properly describe the stresses in the bond layer [3]. In the recent years in
the field of modelling flexural loaded strengthened reinforced concrete elements is achieved
great progress [4]. In the field of research and education very often are used beam models
based on the concept of discretization of the cross section into fibbers layers. Fibber model in
the same time take into account axial and flexural influence. These models could be combined
with any model of beam element based on displacement method, as well as based on the force
method. With appropriate modifications fibber model could be used for the analysis of the
reinforced concrete elements strengthened with externally added FRP plates.
The bond between reinforced concrete beam and CFRP plate in this paper is modelled using a
numerical displacement-based fibber model. Discontinuous bond zone is modelled by
modification in the constitutive law for description of the bond between the reinforced
concrete beam and CFRP plate. A simple approach to the weak zone in the bond description
is proposed. Verification of implemented modification is analysed using bond stress
distribution and tensile plate force distribution along the externally strengthened reinforced
concrete beam under equal load. Numerical analysis carried out shows that the proposed
modelling of the weak zone is appropriate.

2. Analysed case
A reinforced concrete beam externally strengthened with CFRP strip is analysed. A 3200 mm
beam element, presented in Figure 1, which has 2900 mm span and cross b/h=800/120 mm
section is strengthened with CFRP strip with 100 mm width. A weak bond layer with length
of 504 mm, which starts at 200 mm and ends at 704 mm from the supports, is analysed. The
strengthened beam is subjected to four-point bending. Due to the symmetry of the case, only a
half of the beam is being analyzed. Young's modulus and the yielding strength of the CFRP
strip taken in the analysis are 150 GPa and 2400 MPa, respectively. The corresponding values
for the reinforcing steel are 210 GPa and 460 MPa, respectively.
 y F

x
а)
bond layer

CFRP reinforcement
150 50 150 50 256 490
4
y

120
b)
30

z '
As =256 mm
2

bond layer 2
CFRP reinforcement 100 As=384 mm

800

Figure 1: Beam element strengthened with CFRP strip: а) geometry of half beam; b) cross
section of the strengthened beam.

Strengthened reinforced concrete beam is analysed using numerical fibber model based on
field displacement [5]. Detailed description of this model, implemented in program FEAP
(Finite Element Analysis Program) [6], could be found in [7].

3. Modelling of the bond layer between concrete and external CFRP

reinforcement
The original constitutive bond law is described by a linear relation between displacement and
shear stresses in the bond layer up to the maximal bond strength. When this value of bond
shear stresses is reached, slip occurs, which means that displacement is increasing while the
corresponding shear stress is zero.
In order to model weak zone in the bond layer, a modification was introduced in the bond law.
Maximal shear stress, τ1, remains unchanged, while displacement at slip is significantly
increased. By this modification a much more flexible bond is achieved compared to the
perfectly bond area. The perfect bond is described by values u1,cont=0.0013 mm and τ1=3.1
MPa. Comparison between the original and modified bond law is presented in Figure 2.

τ
τ1

u1, cont u1, disc u

Figure 2: Comparison between the original and modified bond law.
4. Results and discussion
Introduced modification in the bond law was confirmed by analysis of the numerical model
for behaviuor of discontinous bond for selected values of parametar u1,disc.
In Figure 3 is presented influence of the selected value for parametar u1,disc, used in the
process of modeling for discontinous bond presented in Figure 1, upon its bearing capacity.
The values of the calculated bearing capacity are decreasing and approaching an asymptotic
value when u1,disc is increasing. The results of the analysis show that the modification
introduced to the model is appropriate.
30

25

20

]
N
k
[ 15
ec
ro
f
10

504 mm
0
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20 1.40 1.60
u1, disc [mm]
Figure 3: Influence of selected value for parametar u1,disc upon bearing capacity.
Implemented modification of the constitutive bond law was comfirmed by analysis of the
bond stress distribution and tensile force in CFRP strip along the beam under equal loading.
Analysis are caried out for selected values of the parametar u1,disc used in the modeling
process of the weak bond zone upon the equal ultimate force of F=8,20 kN.
Figure 4 presents bond stress distribution along the externally strengthened beam for difeerent
selected values of the parametar u1,disc upon the equal ultimate force of F=8,20 kN.
0.25
0.013

0.13
0.2
0.39

] 0.78
m0.15
m
/ 1.17
N
k
[ 1.56
ss 0.1
er
ts
d
n
o0.05
b

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400

-0.05
x [mm]
Figure 4: Bond stress distribution for selected values of the parameter u1,disc upon the equal
ultimate force of F=8,20 kN.
Figure 5 presents tensile force distribution in CFRP strip along the beam for different selected
values of the parameter u1,disc used in the modelling process of the weak bond zone upon the
equal ultimate force of F=8,20 kN.
12
0.013

] 10 0.13
N
k
[ 0.39
p
ir 8
ts 0.78
P
R 1.17
F
C 6 1.56
n
i
ec
r
fo 4
el
is
n
et
2

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400
x [mm]

Figure 5: Tensile force distribution in CFRP strip for selected values of the parameter u1,disc
upon the equal ultimate force of F=8,20 kN.

From the Figure 5 could be concluded that in the zone of the perfect bond between concrete
and external reinforcment all charts have the same inclination and the same ultimate tensile
force in the CFRP strip, which don’t depent on the value of the parameter u1,disc used in the
proces of modeling. At the both ends of the weak zone tensile force in the CFRP strip is
increasing by increasing the value of the parametar u1,disc. At the zone of the weak bond
between concrete and CFRP strip tensile force in the strip aproaches to constant value by
increasing the value of the parametar u1,disc.

5. Conclusions
Improper execution of bonding of FRP plates to the RC beam loaded in flexure may lead to
the appearance of zones where the bond is substantionally weaker, and air pockets are present.
The influence of this phenomenon is difficult to evaluate as it can not be accounted for in the
design and planning stage.
In this paper is presented an attempt to verify the modification of numerical model for
modeling the bond law between reinforced concrete beam and CFRP strip. A simple approach
that consists of a bond constitutive model modification which can be easily incorporated into
the existing numerical model is proposed for modelling the weak zones.
The anaysis leads to a conclusion that bearing capacity decreases approaching an asymptotic
value by increasing the value of the parametar u1,disc. The results obtained show that the bond
stress distribution in the weak zone aproches to zero by increasing the value of the parametar
u1,disc used in the proces of modeling, which is in accordance with the actual situation. The
value of the parametar u1,disc used in the proces of modeling doesn’t influence on the ultimate
tensile force in CFRP strip. Tensile force in the CFRP strip in the weak zone aproches to
constant value by increasing the value of the parametar u1,disc used in the proces of modeling.
The results obtained show that the proposed modification of the bond law is appropriate.
Further validation of the proposed model and results obtained by parametric analysis using
this model, has to be carried out by the experimental researches.

6. References
[1] APRILE A., SPACONE E. and LIMKATANYU S. Role of Bond in RC Beams
Strenghtened with Steel and FRP Plates. Journal of Structural Engineering, 127(12):
1445-1452, 2001.
[2] TÄLJSTEN B. Strengthening of Beams by Plate Bonding. Journal of Materials in Civil
Engineering, 9(4):206-212, 1997.
[3] CHEN J. F. and TENG J. G. Anchorage Strength Models for FRP and Steel Plates
Bonded to Concrete. Journal of Structural Engineering, 127(7):784-791, 2001.
[4] TENG J. G., CHEN J. F., SMITH S. T. and LAM L. FRP-Strengthened RC Structures.
John Wiley & Sons, 2002. ISBN 0-471-48706-6.
[5] MONTI G. and SPACONE E. Reinforced concrete fiber beam element with bond- slip.
Journal of Structural Engineering, 126(6):654-661, 2000.
[6] TAYLOR R. L. FEAP: A Finite Element Analysis Program User manual: Version 7.1,
Dept. of Civ. and Envir. Engrg., University of California, Berkeley, Calif.,
<http://www.ce.berkeley.edu/~rlt/feap/>.
[7] SPACONE E. and LIMKATANYU, S. Responses of Reinforced Concrete Members
Including Bond-Slip Effects. ACI Structural Journal, 97(6):831-839, 2000.