Title: Modeling Fire Response of RC Beams Strengthened with CFRP Laminates

Author(s): Mohannad Naser, Rami Hawileh, Hayder Rasheed

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 301

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1-18

Keywords: Carbon fiber reinforced polymers; Elevated temperatures; Finite element simulation; Fire; ISO834; Thermal-stress analysis.

DOI: 10.14359/51688004

Date: 3/16/2015

Abstract:
This paper presents the development of a finite element (FE) model of a rectangular reinforced (RC) beam externally strengthened with a carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) plate to capture the response of firetested beams conducted by other researchers. The developed model considers the variations in the thermal and mechanical properties of the beam’s constituent materials with temperature. In addition, cohesion elements are placed at the interface between the CFRP and concrete materials to simulate debonding. Transient time domain thermal-stress analysis is performed to obtain the heat transfer distribution and deformation within the beam. The model is validated by comparing the predicted progression of temperature at certain specified locations across the beam’s cross-section to that of the measured fire test data. In addition, the predicted beam’s mid-span deflection during fire exposure is compared to the measured experimental data. In general, good correlation was observed between the measured and predicted results. Furthermore, the developed FE models were able to capture the debonding failure mode that was observed in the experimental tests. It is concluded that the developed model could be used as a valid tool to investigate the fire performance of RC beams externally strengthened with CFRP laminates.