Title : Effect of impact load on posttension slabs reinforced with fiber Reinforced Polymers (RFP), using numerical analysis
Abstract:
With increasing pressures on cities and urban areas there is a growing demand to expand residential areas and infrastructure into rugged terrains such as mountains. This process poses unique challenges such as unstable terrain, landslides, and exposure to natural disasters that may cause an impact load on structures. Researchers stated that Impact loading on RC Slab gives rise to a strain rate influence on strength, stiffness, ductility and failure mode. Fewer researchers studied their impact on prestress-concrete reinforced with steel rebar. This study investigates the response of post-tension slab with fiber glass as a reinforcement material subjected to impact load. The use of fiber glass offers unique properties including high strength-to-weight ratio, high stiffness and oxidation and moisture resistance, making it a promising alternative to traditional reinforcement materials like steel. The findings of this study will contribute to advancing the understanding of the behavior of post-tensioned slabs reinforced with fiber glass rebars under impact loading, providing valuable insights for the design and construction of resilient and sustainable structures in civil engineering applications. A comparison is done among a traditional RC Slab with two post-tension slabs. Three models are presented. The first one is a RC slab with a thickness of 320 mm. The second one is a PT Slab with 250 mm thickness and reinforced with steel rebars. While the third one is a PT slab with the same thickness reinforced with fiber glass rebars. All slabs have the same planar size 3m x 6m. the three slabs are exposed to an impact load of 605 Kg from a reinforced concrete block dropped vertically from an exact height (20m) using a topographical system. The numerical analysis will help to determine the advantages and limitations of using FRP rebar reinforcement over conventional steel in PT slabs in terms of many parameters like deformation, crack patterns, and the overall strength.
Audience take Away Notes:
- The audience will gain insight into the unique properties of fiberglass as a reinforcement material, including its high strength-to-weight ratio, stiffness, and resistance to oxidation and moisture
- This knowledge will help engineers and designers in choosing appropriate materials for constructing resilient structures in challenging environments
- Faculty members can incorporate these findings into their curriculum to teach students about advanced materials in civil engineering
