Civil Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

8-30-2011

Abstract

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures are widely used in construction. Due to aging infrastructure, increased loads, and inadequate maintenance, RC structures need to be retrofitted for prolonged lifespan and increased capacity. Traditional methods of strengthening involve the installation of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites to the tension side of structures. This can be problematic in practice because of the difficulty in accessing the underside, the tension side, of the structural member. In addition, traditional strengthening techniques typically result in exposing the FRP to the external environment with possible degradation and other environmental effects. This research investigates an innovative method to strengthen concrete structures using a combination of ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) and FRP. Using this combination, FRP can be applied to the top side, compression side, of the slab. The hypothesis is that the implementation of the UHPC overlay will push the neutral axis up to the UHPC overlay, allowing the FRP to act as a tension element at ultimate conditions. Two full scale RC slabs were cast and tested to failure; the first as a control and the second using this new strengthening technique. On the strengthened slab, the FRP was installed on top of the slab, which is the compression side. A thin UHPC overlay was cast above the FRP, forming an effective composite where the UHPC resisted all of the compressive stresses and the FRP and reinforcing steel resisted the tensile stresses. The proposed strengthening system increased the ultimate load carrying capacity of the slab by 41%, the stiffness by 197%, and toughness by 167%. The relative ductility of the strengthened slab was 3.3 times greater than the control slab at service loading and 2.1 times greater than the control slab at failure. In addition, finite element models of the control and strengthened slabs were developed. The finite element models are able to accurately simulate the behavior of both slabs. A parametric study on the effect of overlay strength was also performed. It is concluded that UHPC is the compressive material of choice for this technique. The enhanced mechanical and durability characteristics of UHPC and FRP as well as the relative ease of installation makes this proposed alternative method attractive for strengthening RC structures.

Keywords

Concrete slabs--Maintenance and repair, Concrete slabs--Testing, Polymeric composites, High strength concrete.

Sponsors

Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Civil Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Civil Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Maji, Arup

Second Committee Member

Gerstle, Walter

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