There is an interesting potential for the use of GFRP-pultruded profiles in hybrid GFRP-concrete structural elements, either for new constructions or for the rehabilitation of existing structures. This paper provides experimental and numerical investigations on the flexural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) specimens composite with encased pultruded GFRP I-sections. Five simply supported composite beams were tested in this experimental program to investigate the static flexural behavior of encased GFRP beams with high-strength concrete. Besides, the effect of using shear studs to improve the composite interaction between the GFRP beam and concrete as well as the effect of web stiffeners of GFRP were explored. Encasing the GFRP beam with concrete enhanced the peak load by 58.3%. Using shear connectors, web stiffeners, and both improved the peak loads by 100.6%, 97.3%, and 130.8%, respectively. The GFRP beams improved ductility by 21.6% relative to the reference one without the GFRP beam. Moreover, the shear connectors, web stiffeners, and both improved ductility by 185.5%, 119.8%, and 128.4%, respectively, relative to the encased reference beam. Furthermore, a non-linear Finite Element (FE) model was developed and validated by the experimental results to conduct a parametric study to investigate the effect of the concrete compressive strength and tensile strength of the GFRP beam. The developed FE model provided good agreement with the experimental results regarding deformations and damaged patterns.
Carbon fibre reinforced polymers are widely used to strengthen steel structural elements. These structural elements are normally subjected to static, dynamic and fatigue loadings during their life-time. A number of studies have focused on the characteristics of CFRP sheets bonded to steel members under static, dynamic and fatigue loadings. However, there is a gap in understanding the bonding behaviour between CFRP laminates and steel members under impact loading. This paper shows the effect of different load rates from quasi-static to 300 × 103 mm/min on this bond. Two types of CFRP laminate, CFK 150/2000 and CFK 200/2000, were used to strengthen steel joints using Araldite 420 epoxy. The results show a significant bond strength enhancemen
... Show MoreThis search concerns study the crack growth in the wall of pipes made of low carbon steel under the impact load and using the effect of moisture (rate of moisture 50%). The environmental conditions were controlled using high accuracy digital control with sensors. The pipe has a crack already. The test was performed and on two type of specimens, one has a length of 100cm and other have length 50cm. The results were, when the humidity was applied to the pipe, the crack would enhance to grow (i.e. the number of cycles needed to grow the crack will reduce). In addition, when the test performed on the specimens of length 50cm the number of cycles needed to grow the crack is increased due to the effect of bending stress on the
... Show MoreAlthough the axial aptitude and pile load transfer under static loading have been extensively documented, the dynamic axial reaction, on the other hand, requires further investigation. During a seismic event, the pile load applied may increase, while the soil load carrying capacity may decrease due to the shaking, resulting in additional settlement. The researchers concentrated their efforts on determining the cause of extensive damage to the piles after the seismic event. Such failures were linked to discontinuities in the subsoil due to abrupt differences in soil stiffness, and so actions were called kinematic impact of the earthquake on piles depending on the outcomes of laboratory
Static loads exposing to mechanical components can cause cracks, which are lead to form stress concentration regions causing the failure of structure. Generally, from 80% to 90% of structure failure is due to initiation of the cracks. Therefore, it is necessary to repair the crack and reduce its effect on the structure where the effect of the crack is modelled as an additional flexibility to the structure. In the last few years, piezoelectric materials have been considered as one of the most favourable repairing techniques. The piezoelectric material converts the applied voltage on it to a bending moment to counter the bending moment caused by the external load on the beam at the crack location. In this study, the design of the piez
... Show MoreThe High Modulus Asphalt Concrete Mixture (HMACM) or (EME) (Enrobes a Module Eleve) developed in France, since, 1980 by Laboratories Central des Ponts et Chaussees (LCPC). Due to the increasing in traffic intensity and axle loading this type of mixing were suitable for pavement subjected to heavy duty. Experiments showed that EME mixtures have an excellent moisture damage resistance permanent deformation, fatigue cracking and reducing costs of maintenance and a significant reduction in thickness of pavement. Because of the high stiffness of EME mixes, the stresses transformed to the bottom laid layer by repeated traffic wheel loads were reduced effectively. This study intend to focus the light into the possibility of producing asphalt mixtu
... Show MoreThis paper is devoted to investigate the effect of internal curing technique on the properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC). In this study, SCC is produced by using silica fume (SF) as partial replacement by weight of cement with percentage of (5%), sand is partially replaced by volume with saturated fine lightweight aggregate (LWA) which is thermostone chips as internal curing material in three percentages of (5%, 10% and 15%) for SCC, two external curing conditions water and air. The experimental work was divided into three parts: in the first part, the workability tests of fresh SCC were conducted. The second part included conducting compressive strength test and modulus of rupture test at ages of (7, 28 and 90). The third part i
... Show MoreWater absorbent polymers (WAP) are new component in producing building materials. They provide internal curing which reduces autogenous cracking, eliminates autogenous shrinkage, mortar strength increased, enhance early age strength to withstand strain, improve the durability, introduce higher early age compressive strength, have higher performance and reduce the effect of insufficient external curing. This research used different percent of polymer balls to choose the percent that provides good development in compressive strength with time for both water and air curing. The water absorption polymer balls in this research have the ability to absorb water and after usage in concrete they spill out the water (internal curing) and shri
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