Modeling of FRP-Concrete Bond Using Nonlinear Damage Mechanics

摘要

In this study, experimental and numerical procedures are proposed to predict the debonding failure of concrete elements strengthened with fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP). The experimental tests were designed to obtain the tensile softening curve and fracture energy of the concrete-epoxy interface. Results indicate that the fracture energies of plain concrete and concrete-epoxy interface are different in magnitude. The numerical simulations were conducted using a plastic-damage model. In this approach, the damage is defined using the tensile softening curve. Numerical results were validated against experimental results obtained from pull-off bond tests. The numerical models were capable of predicting the experimentally observed load-strain, strain distributions, failure load, and failure mechanism of the pull-off specimens.