Prediction of Punching Shear Strength of Two-Way Slabs Strengthened Externally with FRP Sheets

Strengthening two-way slabs by using fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) is experimentally and analytically evaluated. Results show that the punching capacity of two-way slabs can increase to up to 40% greater than that of a reference specimen. A three-dimensional FEM program called 3D CAMUI, which was developed at Hokkaido University, was used to simulate the experimental slabs. Very good agreement is obtained in load-carrying capacity and modes of failure. An analytical model based on the numerical simulation, which discloses the mechanism of punching shear strength enhancement by FRP strengthening, is proposed to predict the punching shear strength of two-way slabs externally strengthened with FRP sheets. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CC.1943-5614.0000177. (C) 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.