Experimental and Finite Element Studies on the Static Behaviour of Concrete Beams Reinforced with Composite Aramid Bars

Abstract

The limitations of concrete structures reinforced with steel are that it is easily destroyed by marine, and island environments. Usage of concrete structures reinforced with composites in load carrying members of marine structures having concrete frames, and concrete slabs is also gaining popularity recently because of its positive contribution to both energy absorption capacity, concrete strength, and corrosion resistance. This paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation on the static behavior of concrete beams reinforced with composite aramid bars. According, six beams of dimensions (100mm×150mm×1200mm) were cast and tested. The beams are composed of concrete with compressive strength of approximately 40.75MPa and aramid composite bars with tensile strength of approximately 2800 MPa. The main considered variables were the high of beams; and the effect of the diameter of composite aramid bars reinforced on the total capacity of the tested beam. The test and numerical simulation results showed that using composite aramid bars reinforced in the concrete beams has a significant effect in enhancing the increase the flexural strength of the beams. ANSYS finite element software was used to simulate the tests and it was found that there was good conformation between the results of ANSYS simulation and tests. This study showed that the theoretical and experimental results are similar and the error is small, which shows that the numerical simulation method by ANSYS software is accurate.

Keywords: Concrete, beams; experimental; aramid composite; reinforced.