Numerical Simulation of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Beam Strengthened by a Steel Plate with Different Strengthening Schemes

Abstract

This paper proposes 3D nonlinear finite element (FE) models to predict the response of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) beam strengthened using a steel plate. Five FE models are developed based on the tests carried out by the authors in a previous investigation, in which three models are used to simulate the corroded RC beams with different schemes. The FE models use the coupled damaged-plasticity constitutive law for concrete in tension and compression and consider the bond-slip between the corroded tensile steel bar and concrete. The cohesive element is also used to model the cohesive bond between the steel plate and concrete. The FE results of load-deflection and the crack distribution are compared with the test data. The FE results are consistent with the test results. The influence of the thickness of the steel plate, the thickness, and location of the U-shaped steel strip on the bearing capacity of the strengthened corroded beam is analyzed through FE models. The results show that the thickness of the steel plate on the bottom surface should not exceed 4 mm for the flexure-strengthened and combined strengthened beams with a 10% corrosion rate. It is most reasonable to improve the bearing capacity using the 3 mm and 2 mm of thick U-shaped steel strips for the shear-strengthened and combined strengthened beams, respectively. The most reasonable location of the U-shaped steel plate is at the end of the steel plate for beams with a 10% corrosion rate.