Effective Strengthening of RC Beams Using Bamboo-Fibre-Reinforced Polymer: A Finite-Element Analysis

This paper presents a finite-element model of the structural behaviour of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with and without openings externally strengthened with bamboo-fibre-reinforced composite (BFRC) plates. The simulation was performed using ABAQUS Unified FEA 2021HF8 software. The stress-strain relationship of the RC was modelled using a model code for concrete structures, whereas the concrete-damaged plasticity model was used to simulate concrete damage. The predicted crack pattern of the beams was comparable to that from experimental observations. The ultimate load-bearing capacity of RC beams in flexure was predicted with an error of up to 1.50%, while the ultimate load-bearing capacity of RC beams with openings in shear was predicted with an error ranging from 1.89 to 13.43%. The most successful arrangement for strengthening a beam with openings in the shear zone was to place BFRC plates perpendicular to the crack on both sides of the beam's surface, which increased the beam's original load-bearing capacity by 110.06% compared to that of the control beam (CB). The most effective method for strengthening RC beams in flexure is to attach a BFRC plate to the entire bottom soffit of the RC beam. This maximises the ultimate load-bearing capacity at the expense of the beam's ductility.

Automated summary

This paper presents a finite-element model of RC beams with and without openings strengthened with BFRC plates. The simulation results show good agreement with experimental observations. The most successful arrangement for strengthening beams with openings is to place BFRC plates perpendicular to the crack on both sides of the beam's surface, which significantly increases the load-bearing capacity. Attaching a BFRC plate to the entire bottom soffit is the most effective method for strengthening RC beams in flexure, but it reduces the beam's ductility.