Non-Linear Finite Element Analysis of Sisal FRP Wrapped Beams Subjected to Heavy Shear Loads

Abstract

Non-linear three-dimensional finite element analysis in ANSYS 12.0 software was carried out to examine the shear behavioral characteristics of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) beams with and without sisal FRP strengthening. Three numbers of RCC beams were examined for their shear characteristics, one was controlled beam without bonded sisal FRP, next was sisal FRP bonded RCC beam with full wrap and lastly it was sisal FRP bonded RCC beam bonded in strip wrap. All the beams were designed to undergo shear failure, and made strong in flexure. All these three types of RCC beams were subjected to static loading in ANSYS 12.0, using the incremental load step options, and were subsequently analyzed. It was observed through the non-linear finite element simulation that the ultimate shear load carrying capacity increased with the sisal FRP confinement. Different types of cracks generated by ANSYS in predicting shear failure was explained with pictorial presentations. Also, the adopted finite element model was used for analyzing and investigating the shear failure modes, and the crack patterns of the controlled RCC beams and the sisal FRP bonded RCC beams. The numerical results of the ultimate shear load carrying capacities were all compared and thus the effect of sisal FRP bonding on increasing the ultimate shear strength of RCC beams were proved.