Although this new type of reinforcement applied to the surface of existing structures has proved to be highly effective, clarification is still required concerning the modified load-bearing behaviour and an assessment of structural safety. Besides experimental verifications, numerical parameter studies are especially suitable for this purpose. These permit the systematic variation of a wide range of parameters at low cost.

This paper is mainly devoted to improved computational algorithms to account for the load-bearing reserves of reinforced concrete structures with textile reinforcement.

For non-linear FE simulation the load bearing behaviour of the composite construction the layered model with a single reference plane (hybrid finite elements with assumed stress distribution), which has been in use for many years, is extended in such a way that several discrete, coupled, parallel reference planes may be introduced (multi reference plane model).

The ensuring non rigid coupling (including delamination) between the reference planes is achieved using kinematic and static coupling conditions (interface), which are realized with the aid of bar or folded plate elements. The transfer of tensile stresses is possible up to the point of attainment of the composite stress. In the incremental iterative solution procedure a modified Newton-Raphson method was applied up to the ultimate load or alternatively, an arc length method after Ramm (also applicable to the post ultimate load behaviour).

The subsequent strengthening of a construction represents a change in the static system during a loading process. The numerical simulation of the load-bearing behaviour after the stengthening is carried out with a changed static system considering the displacements, strains, stresses and material damages that appeared until then.

The multi-reference plane model was verified at experiments (plates, u-profile) and applied to real construction (slab-and-beam floor, arched shell).

1

B. Möller, M. Beer, W. Graf, A. Hoffmann, "RC-folded plate structures with textile reinforcement", in: E. Onate, ed., ECCOMAS 2000, CIMNE, Barcelona (2000), CD-ROM

2

W. Graf, A. Hoffmann, B. Möller, F. Steinigen, "Numerical simulation and experimental measurements of RC structures with textile reinforcement", in: C.A. Brebbia, et al., eds., CMEM X, Alicante 2001, WIT Press Southampton (2001), pp. 387-396

3

W. Graf, B. Möller, A. Hoffmann, F. Steinigen, "Numerical simulation of RC structures with textile reinforcement", in: H. Mang et al., eds., 5th World Congress on Computational Mechanics, Vienna (2002)

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