Author(s)

C. C. Chamis & P. K. Gotsis

Abstract

A new and effective method is described for designing composites to repair damage or enhance the overload strength of concrete infrastructures. The method is based on composite mechanics, which is available in computer codes. It is used to simulate structural sections made from reinforced concrete, which are typical in infrastructure, as well as to select reinforced concrete structures. The structural sections are represented by a number of layers through the thickness where different layers are used in concrete, and for the composite. The reinforced concrete structures are represented with finite elements where the element stiffness parameters are from the structural sections, which are represented by composite mechanics. The load carrying capability of the structure is determined by progressive structural fractural. Results show improvements of up to 40% for damage and for overload enhancement with relatively small laminate thickness for the structural sections and up to three times for the composite enhanced select structures (arches and domes). Keywords: arches, domes, finite element, composite mechanics, displacements, stresses, buckling modes, vibration modes. 1 Introduction Reinforced concrete is widely used in the construction industry. Concrete tends to crack, chip and be damaged as a result of inadvertent loads or overloads that may not have been accounted for in the initial design. The damage in concrete structures may extend to a state where the safety of that structure becomes a major concern. Recently, considerable effort has been expended on repairing damaged or upgrading concrete structures by using fiber-reinforced composites.

Keywords

arches, domes, finite element, composite mechanics, displacements,stresses, buckling modes, vibration modes.