Strengthening of concrete beams having shear zone openings using orthotropic CFRP modeling

A finite element FEM reinforced concrete model has been analyzed by the author using ANSYS 9 finite element program for both unstrengthened and CFRP-strengthened beams using concrete element model 25 х 25 х 25 mm and discrete and smeared steel elements models was used. The CFRP has been modeled using Solid46 element. The obtained deflection results have been compared with other experimental and FE model results in which using concrete element 100 х 42.5 х 42.5 mm, smeared steel distribution, and modeling CFRP with ANSYS 5 program. The obtained results show a success for the author’s proposed model. Also, a parametric study has been done using the proposed model to analyze the maximum strains values for concrete and steel at failure loads, for different opening sizes, and compared them with the experimental data from other researchers, which shows the efficiency of the proposed models.