Abstract:
Use of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) in construction industry is getting
better attention. This is partly due to CFRP’s superior characteristics such as high
strength to weight ratio, Immunity against corrosion and high tensile strength features.
A study on application of CFRP in form of grid is rare. Therefore, the present
research work presents numerical investigation on use of CFRP grid as a reinforcing
material in concrete slab. Experimental result reported in literature (Aljazaeri et al.,
2020) was used for validation analysis using ANSYS non-linear finite element
software program. Also, analytical formula from ACI was used to verify FE results.
Further, parametric study on influential variables such as effect of concrete
compressive strength, effect of bottom CFRP grid reinforcement layer and effect of
volume fraction of CFRP reinforcement were conducted to get insight into flexural
response of CFRP grid reinforced concrete slab.
FEA results indicated that volume fraction of carbon fiber on carbon fiber reinforced
polymer reinforcement and concrete grade has effect on structural performance of
CFRP grid reinforced concrete. When volume fraction of carbon on CFRP
reinforcement increased from control 20% to 30%, 40% and 50%, ultimate load
resistance increased by 6.25%, 19.71% and 35.63% respectively. Similarly, when slab
concrete compressive strength increased from 56 MPa to 60MPa the ultimate load
resistance increased by 6.9% whereas reducing slab concrete strength 56 MPa to
40MP resulted in ultimate load resistance lost by 7.8%.
Key words: ANSYS; Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP); slab; grid