article · Advances in Civil Engineering
A three-dimensional finite element model was developed and verified against existing experimental literature to examine how ultrahigh performance fibre-reinforced concrete systems improve the shear capacity of reinforced concrete beams. The simulation analysed key structural variables, including the geometry, length, and reinforcement ratio of the strengthening layers, as well as the effects of strengthening only one vertical longitudinal face. The investigation revealed that the shear span-to-depth ratio exerts a major influence on the shear performance of both conventional beams and those retrofitted with fibre-reinforced concrete. Because current design code equations overlook this variable, two new predictive formulas were created to estimate the shear capacity of normal-strength and retrofitted reinforced concrete beams by factoring in the span-to-depth ratio.
Ageing civil infrastructure frequently requires structural reinforcement to carry modern load demands safely. While ultrahigh performance fibre-reinforced concrete is a potent retrofitting material, practical implementation requires reliable calculation standards. Identifying critical factors like the span-to-depth ratio and developing updated calculation formulas helps structural engineers evaluate and design retrofitting schemes with greater safety and precision.
The findings and proposed calculation formulas are relevant to civil engineering consultancies, structural assessment specialists, and building code regulatory bodies designing concrete repair schemes. Based on numerical simulations validated against secondary literature, the work represents early-stage applied research that requires further physical testing and formal standardisation before adoption in commercial building codes or routine construction practice.
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This study presents a numerical investigation on the shear behaviour of shear‐strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beams by using various ultrahigh performance fibre‐reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) systems. The proposed 3D finite element model (FEM) was verified by comparing its results with those of experimental studies in the literature. The validated numerical model is used to analyse the crucial parameters, which are mainly related to the design of RC beams and shear‐strengthened UHPFRC layers, such as the effect of shear span‐to‐depth ratio on the shear behaviour of the strengthened or nonstrengthened RC beams and the effect of geometry and length of UHPFRC layers. Moreover, the effect of the UHPFRC layers’ reinforcement ratio and strengthening of one longitudinal vertical face on the mechanical performance of RC beams strengthened in shear with UHPFRC layers is investigated. Results of the analysed beams show that the shear span‐to‐depth ratio significantly affects the shear behaviour of not only the normal‐strength RC beams but also the RC beams strengthened with UHPFRC layers. However, the effect of shear span‐to‐depth ratio has not been considered in existing design code equations. Consequently, this study suggests two formulas to estimate the shear strength of normal‐strength RC beams and UHPFRC‐strengthened RC beams considering the effect of the shear span‐to‐depth ratio.
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DOI: 10.1155/2020/2139054
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