b Department of Civil Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Abstract:
This paper presents a nonlinear finite element model for the flexure-shear response of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened externally by epoxy bonded steel plates. The model includes a special interface element to simulate the thin epoxy adhesive layer and which allows for the metamorphosis of failure mode from plate yielding to separation as the plate thickness tp is increased. The numerical results show close correlation to experimental data available for an RC beam strengthened by plates of various thickness.