Keywords: nonlinear analysis, aluminum alloy, reinforced concrete, shear deficient, ANSYS, finite element method, strengthening.

This paper presents the development of a three-dimensional nonlinear finite element (FE) model to evaluate and predict the response of shear deficient simply supported beams strengthened externally with aluminum alloy plates. Two FE models are developed using the available finite element software, ANSYS [1] and the predicted results are compared with measured experimental data to validate the accuracy of the models developed. The tests were conducted by the authors in a previous investigation [2]. The first model developed is a virgin RC shear deficient beam to serve as a control specimen. The second beam was externally strengthened in shear using 2 mm thick aluminum alloy plates oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beam and spaced at 130 mm, center to center. The width and thickness of the aluminum plates was 5 mm and 240 mm, respectively. The aluminum plates are bonded on the two sides of the beam using epoxy adhesive. Due to symmetry in the geometry, materials, loading, and boundary conditions, a quarter model is developed for each beam specimen. ANSYS SOLID65 elements are used to model the concrete and LINK8 elements are used to model the steel reinforcement. SHELL63 elements are used to model the aluminum plates and perfect bond is assumed between the plate and concrete surfaces. SOLID45 elements are used to simulate the loading supports. The models developed have exact geometry and boundary conditions to that of the experimental specimens. The models include nonlinear constitutive laws for the concrete, steel, and aluminum materials. The models also consider cracking of the concrete and yielding of the steel reinforcement. The predicted FE results for the load- midspan deflection are compared to the measured experimental data. Close agreement is found between the predicted and measured results at all stages of loading for the models developed. The developed and validated FE models in this study could be used, in the future, as another alternative to reduce the dependency on the costly and time consuming experimental work. The authors will perform a parametric study in a future research to investigate the effect of several parameters such as plate spacing, thicknesses, width, and orientation on the performance of RC beams strengthened in shear with the innovative aluminum alloy plates.

1

ANSYS - Release Version 11, "A Finite Element Computer Software and User Manual for Nonlinear Structural Analysis", ANSYS Inc. Canonsburg, PA, 2007.

2

J.A. Abdalla, A. Abu-Obeidah, R.A.Hawileh, "Behaviour of Shear Deficient Reinforced Concrete Beams with Externally Bonded Reinforcements Plates", Proceedings of The 2011 World Congress on Advances in Structural Engineering and Mechanics (ASEM11plus), Seoul, South Korea, 2011.

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